Health Freedom Idaho

is a grassroots health freedom organization dedicated to preserving the freedom of choice for health care decisions of all individuals, preserving parental rights, defending natural rights, and protecting citizens' access to toxin-free living in the great state of Idaho. [1] They believe that mandates for medical procedures have no place in a free society supporting individuals' freedom to make medical choices for their families with informed consent. Concerns about mask requirements[2], restrictions on the operation of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic[3], and vaccine mandates for employment[4] and other COVID pandemic reactions have the organization leaders, volunteers and members attending and speaking out at events across the state. Founded in May 2015, the organization describes its mission as including "preserv[ing] our freedoms regarding the health care of our choice." While the group's activities have mainly taken place in the Boise area, the organization has a northern chapter hosting several educational events in 2020-2021.[5]

Health Freedom Idaho

Abbreviation	HFI
Formation	2016
Founder	blank blank
Purpose	Anti-vaccination group
Region	Idaho
Official language	English
Executive Director	Miste Gardner-Karlfeldt
Co-director	Sarah Clendenon

Leadership

As of 2021, the organization as a long standing executive board and was headed by co-executive directors Miste Gardner Karlfeldt and Sarah Clendenon. And is supported by a long standing executive board.

Parental Rights

Health Freedom Idaho has worked to preserve the rights of parents in areas of vaccination, medical choice, and parental authority for medical treatment of minor children. Of significant concern is the intrusion of CPS on families and the traumatizing impact that results. Health Freedom Idaho brought to light numerous attempts of medical kidnap in North Idaho, initiated by hospital staff, after parents requested a second opinion or ask questions regarding an invasive treatment.^{[6] [7] [8]} More than 80% of children removed from their homes in Idaho are returned to parents. Many families suffer trauma from separation and even abuse within the child protective system.^[9]

Faith healing

Health Freedom Idaho has opposed the changing of Idaho state laws regarding children and faith healing. On October 3, 2016, several Health Freedom Idaho members attended a meeting of the Children at Risk of Faith Healing working group to provide testimony against changing the laws under discussion. The working group included state legislators and was formed at the request of then-governor Butch Otter to examine laws that exempt parents from the requirement to seek emergency medical care for a child in the case of a health emergency if they instead attempt to use faith healing. In the five years prior to the hearing, there were several cases of children dying in such circumstances. The children who died included unattended home births and no one could guarantee that the children would have lived had they been admitted to a hospital. The working group ultimately opted not to submit a recommendation to the Idaho Legislature on whether or not to change the laws. Health Freedom Idaho has taken a strong stance for parental rights [10][11] opposing additional statutes regarding "neglect' citing the statues already place to protect children from abuse and neglect. HFI brought awareness to the legislators that the small political organization promoting legal change had the backing of a vaccine advocate, Paul Offit, who said numerous times that parents should lose their children if they don't vaccinate.[12] There were serious concerns that the 'faith healing campaign' had a more sinister motive designed to undermine parental authority rather than protect children in Idaho.[13] [14]

Vaccination views

Health Freedom Idaho is frequently described in the media as an anti-vaccination group by the media.  Promoting informed consent, the organization has a variety of materials on their website about vaccination risk and religious objections to abortion tainted vaccines. Holds the view that every parent should have the authority to choose what is what for their family in regards to medical treatment, including vaccination. The group is additament about providing parents with the information to make vaccination choices for their own family, "education before vaccination."

They are vehemently opposed to vaccine mandates. It's NOT about healthcare and safety or effectiveness of vaccines, it is about freedom of choice. "It's about personal bodily sovereignty. No person should have control over another's body without their consent." [15]

The group posted articles about the liability-free status of vaccine manufacturers[16], about the risks of vaccines[17] [18] [19] and the moral concerns about abortion-tainted vaccines.[20][21] [22] In 2019 the organization posted a video from immunologist about childhood vaccines.[23] In November 2016, the group's blog posted a 2013 study, that the flu shot increases risk of fetal death. The claim is contradicted by the bulk of research on miscarriage and the flu shot and the post was rated False by Politifact. This post would go on to circulate widely on Politifact in 2019.

During Idaho's 2017 legislative session, Health Freedom Idaho advocated a bill that would hold school accountable to the law allows parents to provide a letter written by the parent to exempt their child from vaccination requirements rather than using a school-provided form to do so. The form created by the health department required parents to sign incriminating and to acknowledge that "I am aware that my child may contract a vaccine-preventable disease."  The bill died without receiving a hearing in the Senate. The form developed by IDHW falls far outside the scope of the Idaho Statutes (section 39-1118(2) or 39-4802(2), Idaho Code;). The state prescribed form based on IDAPA 16.02.15, is in violation of Idaho Code 39-4802 and 39-4804. In January 2018, an Idaho Senate panel introduced a bill similar to the 2017 bill with the support of Health Freedom Idaho, which never received a hearing. In 2020, due to the persistence of the organization and the legislators advocating, the rules were eventually changed to line up with the statute.

In 2019, Heath Freedom Idaho opposed a new state administrative rule requiring students entering 12th grade to get a meningitis booster shot. The rule was ultimately adopted.

After years of advocating, a 2021 House Bill 298 passed requiring the schools and daycares to advise parents of their right to a vaccine exemption for religious, philosophical or medical reasons. [24]

"School officials shall describe the exemptions provided in this section and provide a citation to this section in any communication to parents and guardians regarding immunization." [25] See also Idaho Code 39-4804 which details that vaccines are not mandatory, may be refused, parents are entitled to information about complications, and that opting out may not be used against a parent in any way.

COVID-19 related protests

• Herd immunity
• Science Moms
• Vaccination policy
• Vaccine hesitancy
• Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
• Faith healing

External links

• Official website
• 5G misinformation and controversy