A new coalition comprising 15 organizations is challenging vaccine and mask mandates across the United States. Among these groups is the organization founded by Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Children’s Health Defense” (CHD), established by Minister Kennedy, is a member of the “Medical Freedom Act Coalition” (MFAC). The organization and other members of the coalition express their desire for each state to propose and pass its own medical freedom act.
Leslie Manookian, founder of the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), told the Epoch Times, “I think this is the first time we’ve seen such an effort in the freedom and health movement.”
Idaho serves as a model for other states, having passed a law in 2025 prohibiting businesses and schools from mandating vaccinations or other medical procedures for customers, employees, and students. Manookian was involved in drafting the “Idaho Medical Freedom Act” in 2025.
“The passage of this law truly shows what we can do,” Leah Wilson, executive director and co-founder of Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) and a leader in the Medical Freedom Act Coalition (MFAC), explained to the Epoch Times. “Our goal is to get the Medical Freedom Act passed in as many states in the U.S. as possible.”
Children’s Health Defense believes that vaccine mandates and medical mandates should be condemned, and they are honored to join this coalition to collectively work towards ending forced medical procedures for all Americans. Michael Kane, advocacy director of Children’s Health Defense, told the Epoch Times.
The Medical Freedom Act Coalition also includes other organizations associated with Kennedy or his “Make America Health Again” (MAHA) movement, such as the Independent Medical Alliance (IMA), the MAHA Institute, and MAHA Action.
People involved in this movement stated they are in communication with Minister Kennedy on other matters but have not discussed the coalition’s issues with him. At the time of publication, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had not responded to requests for comments.
“The state of Idaho better represents medical freedom and represents healthy people in the U.S. than any other state,” Minister Kennedy said at a briefing with Idaho Governor Brad Little in July 2025. Little signed the “Idaho Medical Freedom Act” several months prior.
Recently in Tennessee, Kennedy told reporters that he was not involved in any efforts to repeal state school vaccine mandate laws. He emphasized, “I believe in freedom of choice,” describing vaccination as “a personal choice to be made in consultation with a doctor.”
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Families for Vaccines (AFV) oppose the repeal of vaccine mandates. These organizations did not respond to requests for comments.
Part of the Idaho Medical Freedom Act stipulates that schools “may not require any person to undergo a medical intervention to enroll, enter a campus or building, or be employed.” The law further states that businesses “may not refuse to provide any service, product, place of entry, or transportation service to a person based on whether they have or have not received or used a medical intervention.”
However, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare mandates parents to immunize their children against certain diseases to attend schools and childcare centers.
The Department of Health and Welfare encourages school districts to consider the “Medical Freedom Act” when implementing vaccine requirements in schools, a department spokesperson told the Epoch Times via email.
Supporters of the Medical Freedom Act believe that Idaho’s legislation is not comprehensive. The new “Medical Freedom Expansion Act,” initiated by co-sponsor and Republican State Representative Rob Beiswenger, aims to clarify that mandatory provisions are unacceptable.
“This expansion act will make it clear to students and parents that vaccination is a voluntary, personal, and private choice, not a mandatory one,” Beiswenger stated in an email to the Epoch Times.
This year, lawmakers from around a dozen states have introduced bills that would change or prohibit mandatory vaccination or other medical procedures.
Arizona legislators proposed a bill that would prohibit businesses and schools from requiring employees or students to undergo “medical interventions” (such as vaccinations) for employment or enrollment.
“This bill ensures that Arizona residents are not forced to choose between bodily autonomy and the ability to work, learn, travel, or participate in public life,” said Lisa Fink, the bill’s sponsor and a Republican State Representative, during a January hearing.
Two House committees in the state have approved the legislation.
Hawaii legislators introduced the “Hawaii Medical Freedom Act,” which includes a similar ban. The bill has been submitted to various House committees for review.
Indiana senators introduced a bill that would prevent leveraging the acceptance, completion, or participation in medical interventions on an individual’s body as a condition for employment, admission, enrollment, compensation, benefits, or participation opportunities. The bill has been handed over to the Senate Health Committee for review.
New Hampshire House Representatives proposed a bill aiming to repeal child immunization requirements. A public hearing was held on February 4, with a legislative meeting on February 11.
On the other hand, some lawmakers have continuously proposed bills to tighten vaccine mandate requirements. For example, Democratic State Senator Margie Bright Matthews from South Carolina introduced a bill to eliminate religious exemptions for measles vaccinations in the wake of a measles outbreak in the state.
“This legislation aims to protect children, protect classrooms, and protect communities with clear, evidence-based standards,” Bright Matthews said in a statement.
Currently, all states in the U.S. require students to be vaccinated to attend school. Some states permit exemptions for religious or philosophical reasons, while all states allow exemptions for medical reasons.
Florida officials previously stated they would eliminate all mandatory vaccination requirements in 2025, but resistance in the state legislature thwarted the goal as revoking some vaccine mandates necessitates legislative action. The “Medical Freedom Act” proposed in January expands the exemptions for mandatory vaccination requirements but does not outright prohibit them.
As a member of the new coalition, the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF) has released a model bill that refines Idaho’s “Medical Freedom Act.” Legislators from other states can refer to this model bill to propose medical freedom acts within their respective states.
“I don’t think this is a partisan issue,” she said. “I believe most Americans do not want to be forced to take certain measures for their children.”
原文写道:
New Coalition Aims to Ban Vaccine Mandates Across US
Published in the English Epoch Times.