As the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares to make Florida the first state to remove school vaccine mandates, deep concern is spreading among doctors, parents and public health workers for the safety of children and others who might be vulnerable in a disease outbreak.
They fear that dreaded diseases, held in check for decades by vaccines, could flare up again if too many people in Florida aren’t immunized. Here’s what to know:
DeSantis calls this ‘medical freedom’
While states traditionally follow federal vaccine guidance, school mandates are set by state health departments. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday that the Health Department would take steps to eliminate these mandates, calling them “immoral” intrusions that hamper parents’ ability to make health decisions for their children.
“We’re going to end it,” Ladapo said, without providing details or a timeline.