Allies of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have begun a coordinated effort to challenge existing school vaccination requirements, aiming to expand parental choice and reduce government mandates.

The initiative is being led by the newly formed Medical Freedom Act Coalition, an umbrella group of at least 15 nonprofit organizations opposing what they describe as compulsory medical interventions, many of which involve vaccines, according to a report by The New York Times.

Coalition leader Leslie Manookian told supporters that the campaign’s strategy is to “burst the dam open” in states where lawmakers may be receptive. Bills to eliminate all or nearly all school-entry vaccine mandates have been introduced in at least nine states, including New Hampshire, Georgia, Iowa, and Idaho. Some proposals, such as in New York, face low prospects for passage.

The coalition reportedly includes Children’s Health Defense, founded by Kennedy, along with groups associated with his MAHA, Make America Healthy Again, movement. At a recent Heritage Foundation event, Children’s Health Defense general counsel Kim Mack Rosenberg said the ultimate goal is to remove mandates tied to school attendance, which she described as creating difficult situations for families.

Kennedy has stated he is not directly involved in the state-level push but supports freedom of choice for families making vaccination decisions with their physicians.

Some public health experts warn that loosening school-entry requirements could reduce immunization rates and increase the risk of outbreaks. Recent measles cases in South Carolina have affected more than 900 people, including at least 19 hospitalizations.

State-level responses have been mixed. Bills have stalled in Oklahoma and Indiana, while measures remain under consideration in West Virginia and Arizona. Florida has not introduced legislation but is exploring regulatory changes to ease certain vaccination rules.

Chris Anders, sponsor of a bill to remove school mandates in West Virginia, defended the legislation, saying, “If people decide not to be vaccinated, that is their choice. Just like if they decide not to wear a seatbelt or a motorcycle helmet If they decide that, they suffer the consequences.”