Florida pursuing measures to abolish vaccine requirements

Florida Announces Planned Elimination of Vaccine Mandates for School Entry

In a move that could have significant implications for public health, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the formation of a new state commission aimed at addressing health issues in the state. The "Make America Healthy Again" commission will be chaired by the Governor's wife, Casey DeSantis.

The commission, modelled after one at the federal level created by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plans to repeal statutes requiring vaccines for polio, diphtheria, measles, and mumps for school entry. If the repeal passes, Florida will become the first state in the nation to eliminate all vaccine mandates for children and adults.

The announcement has been met with concern from public health and child health professionals. Dr. Susan Kressly, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressed worry that the move could put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick. Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease expert at Florida International University, stated that the move will "cause havoc." She added that ending vaccine mandates is against empirical evidence of what is safest for individual children.

Florida's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo plans to issue rules repealing requirements for these vaccines. Ladapo, who has been a critic of vaccines, particularly mRNA vaccines developed for the COVID-19 pandemic, supports individuals' rights to make their own decisions about vaccination, including the choice not to vaccinate. He described existing vaccine mandates as "wrong" and "dripping with disdain and slavery."

Dr. Marty also raised concerns about the potential impact on funding for free vaccines for the impoverished and insurance-related issues for the rest of the population. Other vaccines, such as those for chickenpox, hepatitis B, and strep infections, are currently mandated by the state health department, not the Legislature.

The move to end vaccine mandates has been condemned by public health and child health professionals. Dr. Marty and Dr. Kressly are not alone in their concerns. The plan to end all vaccine requirements has been met with criticism from various quarters.

The formation of the new commission was announced on Wednesday. As the commission begins its work, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the health of Florida's communities and its children. The ripple effects of this decision are likely to be significant and far-reaching.