PONTIAC, MI (WXYZ/CNN) – A Michigan mother was sentenced to seven days in jail for refusing to vaccinate her son in spite of a court order.
Rebecca Bredow was sentenced at a hearing Wednesday for contempt of court.
The mother of two had been given one week to get her son vaccinated, but she refused to comply with the court orders and agreements dating back to November 2016 when she said she would vaccinate the boy.
“It’s clear to me that you don’t care about orders, even if you agree to them, which you did,” the judge said.
The order was part of a custody battle between Bredow and her ex-husband, who wants their son vaccinated.
Bredow, who is the boy's primary caregiver, says she believes in parents having the choice to make the right decision for their child, based on the parent’s knowledge of vaccines and the child.
“I am an educated vaccine-choice mother, and I have signed vaccine waivers and been fully compliant with all state Michigan laws for both of my children for every school year,” Bredow said.
The judge awarded temporary custody to Bredow’s ex-husband, and he will be able to get the child vaccinated.
“I understand you love your children, but what I don’t think you understand is that your son has two parents and Dad gets a say,” the judge said.
Bredow says she and her ex-husband made the decision to space out and delay some of their son’s vaccines. She and her attorney plan to appeal.
Copyright 2017 WXYZ via CNN. All rights reserved.
