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Ferndale Mom Gets 7 Days in Jail for Refusing to Vaccinate Son

October 04, 2017, 6:31 PM

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Rebecca Bredow

A Ferndale mom was sentenced Wednesday to seven days in jail for refusing a court order to vaccinate her 9-year-old son.

She opposes vaccinations, but her ex-husband wants it done.

Rebecca Bredow, in a hearing in Oakland County Circuit Court, told the judge that she's a "passionate mother who cares deeply" about her children, Nia Harden of WXYZ reports.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and it was not my intent to disrespect your honor or disobey the court's orders," she said in the hearing."

"I stand here today scared and vulnerable, begging the court to understand that I'm not a lazy parent," she told the judge. "I'm a passionate mother who cares deeply about my children, their health and their well-being.

"I am an educated vaccine-choice mother and I have signed vaccine waivers and have been fully compliant with all state laws for both of my children for every school year," Bredow said.

In court, she said vaccinating her son goes against all of her beliefs. She says parents have the choice to make the right decision based on their knowledge of vaccines.

"If my child was forced to be vaccinated, I couldn't bring myself to do it," she said.

Judge Karen McDonald told Bredow told her:

"It's clear to me you don't care about (court) orders, even if you agree to them. You've repeatedly stated over the past several days publicly that you will not follow this court order, so I'm sentencing you to seven days in jail."

The state of Michigan allows parents to opt out of having their children vaccinated. But both parents have to agree.


Read more:  WXYZ


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