Florida is working to remove four vaccination requirements and increase exemptions

Read the full story at the Florida Insider

By: Chris J.

Panama City Beach, FL. — On Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health took a step toward doing away with four childhood vaccination requirements. The department can do this without the governor’s or the Legislature’s approval.

The idea is the first concrete step in Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s plan to do away with all vaccine restrictions in the state. It was discussed at a meeting held in Panama City Beach on Friday.

Polio, measles, and tetanus immunizations are mandated by a Florida statute. The Legislature must act to alter such requirements.

However, the Department of Health has long mandated four more vaccinations for school attendance: Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal conjugate, or PCV15/20; Varicella, or chickenpox; and Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib.

A Department of Health panel heard conflicting public reactions to the state’s proposal to repeal those four vaccination requirements at its meeting on Friday.