Florida removes four school vaccine mandates

The United States — Florida Department of Health, led by Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, has proposed a rule to remove four vaccines (Hepatitis B, varicella, Hib, and pneumococcal) from school entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools. The rule, approved by Ladapo on Aug. 20, is in a 21-day public comment period. It also expands religious exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs and allows parents and college students to opt out of the state vaccine database. This move follows a year-long effort by Governor Ron DeSantis and Ladapo to eliminate all vaccine mandates. Medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics have expressed concern, warning of increased disease risk. The proposal has drawn national attention, with President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporting vaccination for some diseases. United States — Florida has seen a rise in measles cases, with 155 reported this year, including an outbreak at Ave Maria University. The rule does not affect vaccines mandated by state law, such as MMR and polio, which would require legislative action to change.