(Image via ABC)

Staff writer: Gwen Pichette

Email: gpichette@umassd.edu

Florida has become the first state in 80 years to vow to repeal vaccine mandates, including for school-aged children. 

Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Lapado, made the surprising announcement in a joint press conference with State Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, September 3rd—ironically the first week back to school for many children and when the spread of germs is particularly high.

The Florida Health Department stated that the rule change for vaccines could go into effect as soon as 90 days after the announcement. 

In a statement to ABC News, the department said that this plan would include the removal of multiple immunization requirements for diseases and illnesses, including the hepatitis B vaccine, chickenpox vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Lapado is already considered to be a highly controversial figure due to his questionable handling of past health problems in his state. There were investigations of falsified reports of COVID-19 and committing “scientific fraud” and an incident where he compared mandatory vaccinations against deadly diseases like polio to “slavery,” protesting: “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God.”

Many anti-vaccine advocates celebrate the change to vaccine mandates, arguing that it is a win for personal freedom and bodily autonomy. 

One such advocate was Lidia Clark, who was interviewed while waiting with other parents and guardians outside of Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale. Clark revealed that her 7-year-old grandchild was never vaccinated and that she was “ecstatic” that her family would no longer have to worry about obtaining exemptions for vaccinations. 

Clark emphasized the importance of personal choice, saying, “If you want to vaccinate your child, you can, but I don’t believe that it should have ever been enforced on any of us.”

Florida’s Department of Health echoed a similar sentiment in its official statement, saying: “Medical freedoms are the focus, and these vaccines will remain available to families throughout Florida. Parents are encouraged to consult with their health care providers when making health care decisions for their children.”

However, other medical experts are shaking their heads, warning that diseases and illnesses previously eradicated are at high risk of returning if Florida’s repeals go through. 

Lynn Nelson, president of the National Association of School Nurses, warns, “If they’re able to go through with it, they’re just opening a door to a health crisis that’s 100 percent preventable.”

Indeed, in comparison to the rest of the nation, Florida is known to be a straggler when it comes to school-aged children immunization rates. The red-state voters tend to align with conservative values, which include populations of so-called “anti-vaxxers.”

According to state and federal statistics, when it came to kindergartners being vaccinated, there was a 3.3% difference between Florida and other U.S. states. For immunization against deadly diseases including measles, mumps, and rubella, 88.7% were vaccinated in Florida compared to over 92% for the rest of the nation.

Additionally, according to a 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, nearly 5.1% of Florida kindergartners had an exemption to vaccine mandates, compared to 3.6% nationally. 

The exemptions were all considered to be non-medical-related. 

Others are worried considering that there has been an uptick in illnesses and illness-related deaths this year compared to past years. 

2025 has been the worst year for measles in over 30 years, and experts warn that a statewide repeal on vaccine mandates could be detrimental, particularly to the vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, disabled, young children, and auto-immune compromised individuals. 

Upon hearing Lapado and Desanti’s announcement, American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan J. Kressly argued:

When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread, and easier for everyone to keep the fun and when children are sick and miss school, parents also miss work, which not only impacts those families, but also the local economy. We are concerned that today’s announcement … will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community.

A 2024 study from the CDC concluded that vaccines prevented a whopping 508 million lifetime illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths among children born from 1994-2023.

Whooping cough is another highly contagious disease that predominantly affects children and infants. According to statistics provided by AP News, as of this August 23rd, there have been 19,000 cases. 

That is nearly 2,000 more cases than the same time last year. 

The plan to lift vaccine requirements is not solidified and is still anticipated to face some pushback, especially considering its controversial nature.

All 50 states currently have vaccine mandates in place for children, and to roll back such long-standing mandates could be the zeitgeist for other states to follow suit. 

Lapado’s plan has garnered criticism from both red and blue states and also from President Donald Trump. 

He appeared apprehensive on the issue, urging caution when it came to skipping out on immunizations. “You have some vaccines that are so incredible, and I think you have to be very careful when you say that some people don’t have to be vaccinated. It’s a very tough position … it’s a tough stance.” 

While Lapado remains “fully confident” that any outbreaks would be manageable, others like double board-certified pediatrician Dr. Zachary Rubin, who specializes in immunology, unequivocally condemned Lapado’s actions. In a social media post, Rubin called Lapado’s decision “a calculated move in the ongoing politicization of public health.”

“The reality is that vaccines are not shackles, they are shields. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, nearly eliminated polio in most of the world, and saved millions of lives annually. To suggest otherwise isn’t just irresponsible; it’s dangerous,” he wrote.