Introduction to Florida’s Plan
Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine mandates likely won’t take effect for 90 days and would include only chickenpox and a few other illnesses unless lawmakers decide to extend it to other diseases, like polio and measles, the health department said Sunday.
Background on the Decision
The department responded to a request for details, four days after Florida’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, said the state would become the first to make vaccinations voluntary and let families decide whether to inoculate their children.
Public Health Implications
It’s a retreat from decades of public policy and research that has shown vaccines to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among children. Despite that evidence, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism about vaccines.
Diseases Affected by the Plan
Florida’s plan would lift mandates on school vaccines for hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib influenza and pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis, the health department said.
Implementation Timeline
“The Department initiated the rule change on September 3, 2025, and anticipates the rule change will not be effective for approximately 90 days,” the state told The Associated Press in an email. The public school year in Florida started in August.
Exceptions and Continuing Mandates
All other vaccinations required under Florida law to attend school “remain in place, unless updated through legislation,” including vaccines for measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, mumps and tetanus, the department said.
Legislative Schedule
Lawmakers don’t meet again until January 2026, although committee meetings begin in October.
Statement from the Surgeon General
Ladapo, appearing Sunday on CNN, repeated his message of free choice for childhood vaccines. “If you want them, God bless, you can have as many as you want,” he said. “And if you don’t want them, parents should have the ability and the power to decide what goes into their children’s bodies. It’s that simple.”
Existing Exemptions and Vaccine Impact
Florida currently has a religious exemption for vaccine requirements. Vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, the World Health Organization reported in 2024. The majority of those were infants and children.
Criticism from Medical Professionals
Dr. Rana Alissa, chair of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said making vaccines voluntary puts students and school staff at risk.
Current Health Crises
This is the worst year for measles in the U.S. in more than three decades, with more than 1,400 cases confirmed nationwide, most of them in Texas, and three deaths. Whooping cough has killed at least two babies in Louisiana and a 5-year-old in Washington state since winter, as it too spreads rapidly. There have been more than 19,000 cases as of Aug. 23, nearly 2,000 more than this time last year, according to preliminary CDC data.
Political Response
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. questioned RFK Jr. about the infant onesies once sold by Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine nonprofit Kennedy founded, in his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
Conclusion
The decision by Florida to potentially drop school vaccine mandates for certain diseases has sparked concern among medical professionals and highlights the ongoing debate about vaccine policies. The plan’s implementation and its effects on public health will be closely watched in the coming months.
FAQs
- Q: When will Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine mandates likely take effect?
A: The plan likely won’t take effect for 90 days. - Q: Which diseases are initially affected by the plan to drop school vaccine mandates?
A: The plan would initially lift mandates on school vaccines for hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib influenza, and pneumococcal diseases. - Q: Are all vaccine mandates being dropped?
A: No, mandates for other diseases like measles, polio, and tetanus remain in place unless updated through legislation. - Q: How have medical professionals responded to the plan?
A: Medical professionals, like Dr. Rana Alissa, have expressed concern that making vaccines voluntary puts students and school staff at risk.
