Florida Abolishes State Vaccine Mandates, Putting Children and Communities at Risk

Strategic Insights -

Florida's move to scrap vaccine requirements for children attending schools, including for polio, diphtheria, and tetanus, marks a significant departure from decades of public health policy aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases. The announcement, made by Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo and endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis, has sparked widespread criticism from public health experts and advocates, who warn of a catastrophic outcome.

Key Takeaways:

  • Florida becomes the first state to completely withdraw from vaccine mandates, which have been in place since the 1850s and have been credited with boosting vaccination rates and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.
  • The move is supported by Governor Ron DeSantis and US Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo, who have both been vocal critics of mainstream public health guidance.
  • The Florida Department of Health can more immediately target four vaccines mandated under its own rules: chicken pox, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and the pneumococcal vaccine PCV 15/20.
  • The announcement has drawn criticism from public health experts, who point to scientific evidence supporting immunizations and warn of a "train wreck."
  • Exemptions to vaccination requirements vary by state, with California, Oregon, and Washington forming an alliance to coordinate their own immunization guidelines.
  • A KFF survey found that 83 percent of respondents agreed that public schools should require some vaccines for students, allowing for health and religious exemptions.

Statistics:

  • 83% of respondents supported vaccination requirements for public schools, according to a KFF survey published in January.
  • 93% of Democrats, 85% of independents, and 75% of Republicans supported vaccination requirements for public schools.
  • Since the 1850s, all states and the District of Columbia have vaccination requirements to attend public schools.
  • Only 20% of a school population needs to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  • 1 in 25 schools in the US have vaccination rates lower than 80%, according to a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.

Sources:

  • David Ovalle; Lori Rozsa, "Florida surgeon general announces end to all state vaccine mandates," Miami Herald, March 16, 2023.
  • James Colgrove, "The History of Vaccines: A Public Health Perspective," Columbia University Journal of Public Health, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2018.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, "Key Action for Controlling the Spread of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases."
  • Susan Kressly, "Statement on the Announcement by Gov. DeSantis to Lift Vaccine Mandates," American Academy of Pediatrics, March 16, 2023.
  • KFF, "Most Americans Support Vaccine Requirements for Public Schools," January 2023.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Vaccination Requirements for Schools," 2019.