R's Want To Put ‘Vaccine Choice’ Into Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/11/2025) Republicans are trying to use the same “my body, my choice” argument enshrined in the Michigan Constitution to protect abortion rights to legally shield residents who decline to get vaccinated.

“Vaccine freedom” was the phrase used by Rep. James DeSana (R-Carleton) and Rep. Brad Paquette (R-Niles) as they seek to add vaccination status to the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), meaning someone could not be discriminated against for housing, schooling, employment and more based on whether they have been vaccinated or to what extent.

If the unvaccinated feel that they were discriminated against, they could pursue legal action under HB 4552 and HB 4553, which were referred to the House Committee on Rules because they promulgate administrative rules that are more stringent than the statutory requirements for a parent to claim a vaccine exemption for their child in school.

A nurse prepares a vaccine.

HB 4475 was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.

Rep. Rylee Linting (R-Wyandotte) was not present at the press conference where the bills were discussed, but she transferred from Grand Valley State University after declining the COVID-19 vaccine and not being able to continue her education.

Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) said college students were manipulated or coerced into a medical decision to get vaccinated so they could continue their education and make use of any debt they had already incurred.

“What happens in your body is a decision between you and your creator or your belief, and there is no room for the government to get in between that relationship, especially when it comes to education,” said Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) at the press conference.

Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) talked about her experience as a parent transitioning her children from homeschooling to public schooling, a process during which she was required to be “counseled” by the local health department about vaccinating her children.

“I find it quite hypocritical that we live in a state where we’re told ‘my body, my choice’ all the time. In fact, we’ve changed our Constitution to give women the freedom to choose whether to keep their unborn child or not, but the moment the child’s born, then the state and the government want to tell us how we should parent,” Wortz said.