Detroit mother sentenced to 7 days in jail for failing to bring son's vaccination record up to date

Alyssa Rege -

A judge sentenced Rebecca Bredow to seven days in jail Wednesday after she refused to bring her 9-year-old son's vaccinations up to date, according to ABC News.

The judge held Ms. Bredow in contempt of court and sentenced her after she refused to comply with court orders issued last week to ensure her son to receive all his missing vaccinations by 9 a.m. Oct. 5.

Documents obtained by ABC News suggest Ms. Bredow was initially asked to provide her son with the remaining immunizations in November 2016 following a legal custody battle with her ex-husband. Ms. Bredow claimed she and her former husband previously agreed to space out the boy's vaccinations, citing her own fears about the dosage and grouping of vaccinations. Ms. Bredow's ex-husband reportedly told court officials he changed his mind and wanted the child to receive all of the vaccinations recommended for children near the boy's age, the report states.

During Wednesday's hearing, Ms. Bredow said she takes "full responsibility" for her decision not to vaccinate her son and that the idea of vaccinations goes against her own beliefs, according to the report.

"I would rather go to jail for standing up for what I believe in than vaccinating my child,"

Ms. Bredow told ABC News during an interview last week. "[Court officials] want me to bring him up to the fullest extent medically allowed, which would be up to eight vaccines in one dose. … God forbid if he were to be injured by a vaccine. I would have to take care of him."

Michigan allows parents to opt out of vaccines for nonmedical reasons, according to the report.

Ms. Bredow's child will remain in the care of Ms. Bredow's ex-husband while she completes her seven day sentence.

 

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