Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, alongside Governor Ron DeSantis, announced on September 3rd that the state will move to eliminate all vaccine mandates for school attendance. The state health department clarified that the proposed rule changes, concerning vaccines for hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib influenza, and pneumococcal diseases, will not take effect for about 90 days.
Governor DeSantis has established the “Make America Healthy Again” Commission, which seeks to remove these mandates entirely. “We’re getting government out of the way, getting government out of your lives,” said Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, co-leader of the commission. Republican Leaders have remained silent or distanced themselves from the subject, expressing apprehension towards the risks of a complete withdrawal of these requirements. “Look, you have vaccines that work. They pure and simple work. They are not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used; otherwise, some people are going to catch it and they are going to endanger other people,” stated President Trump when questioned on the matter.
Medical communities have expressed deep concern with experts warning that declining vaccination rates may lead to outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, and other preventable diseases. Dr. Tina Tan, President of Infectious Diseases Society of America, called Florida’s move “a major disaster” cautioning that children could bring illnesses home to immunocompromised family members. Florida’s pediatricians worry that the change will weaken the herd immunity that protects children too young or medically unable to vaccinate.
Although Ladapo’s department can roll back some mandates, eliminating those enshrined in state statute, such as MMRm and Polio, will require legislative approval. The Florida Legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until January of 2026. Vaccines for measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus remain required under current law, unless the legislature amends them. This proposition marks the first time any U.S. state has attempted to entirely strip away mandatory school vaccination.
