In a significant move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is preparing to eliminate vaccine mandates in schools, raising alarm among public health officials and parents alike. There’s widespread concern that this could jeopardize child safety and lead to outbreaks of previously controlled diseases.
Health experts worry that a decline in vaccination rates might resurrect serious illnesses that have been suppressed for years.
Here’s what to consider:
DeSantis frames it as “medical freedom.”
Historically, the state has followed federal vaccine recommendations, but the specifics are governed by the state health department. Florida’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, revealed plans to remove these mandates, labeling them “immoral” and infringing on parental rights to make health decisions for their kids.
“We’re going to finish it,” Ladapo stated, though he didn’t clarify a timeline for these changes.
Questions surrounding other vaccination requirements remain unanswered. Many requirements are embedded in state law, needing legislative backing. DeSantis has enlisted Ladapo and his wife, Casey, in crafting a broader health care measure slated for discussion in the next legislative session.
Concerns from school nurses
Lynn Nelson, president of the National Association of School Nurses, expressed serious worries: “If they proceed with this, they’re inviting a health crisis that could have been avoided.” Schools reflect broader society; illnesses can easily travel home to affect vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly, she explained.
Diseases such as measles and mumps are particularly alarming. Measles, being extremely contagious, poses severe risks to young children and infants, she noted. “This is unfolding nationally and will impact states where vaccination rates are dwindling,” Nelson added.
Florida’s vaccination rates are already lagging
This year marked the worst incidence of measles in the U.S. in over three decades, with more than 1,400 reported cases across the nation, mostly in Texas, and unfortunately, three fatalities. Whooping cough also claimed the lives of two infants in Louisiana recently. Per CDC preliminary data, over 19,000 cases of whooping cough were recorded as of late August, marking an increase of nearly 2,000 from the previous year.
Even before the latest announcement, Florida’s vaccination rate for kindergarten kids was behind, with around 88.7% vaccinated as of 2025, which is below the threshold needed to combat illnesses like measles and mumps, according to state and federal health data.
Further complicating matters, new religious exemptions for vaccines have surged, reaching about 6.4% among children aged 5-17, and in some counties, it’s jumped to 15% as of April.
This information was part of the Florida Department of Health’s “Vaccination-Proofable Disease Surveillance Report” last updated on May 29. Concurrently, cases of diseases like hepatitis A and whooping cough have been increasing.
Parents divided on the issue
Yvette Phase shared her thoughts while picking up her children from Bayview Elementary in Fort Lauderdale, saying, “I’m entirely pro-vaccine. We shouldn’t relax requirements; children need protection to keep others safe.”
Conversely, Ebony Walker, whose son is in first grade, supports erasing the mandate, sharing that receiving multiple vaccinations soon after birth felt overwhelming. She’s currently opting for a religious exemption for her child. “Florida sets trends; it paves the way for other states,” Walker said.
Lydia Clark expressed that her grandson, aged 7, has never received vaccinations and suggested that no one should feel obligated to keep getting exemptions. “If parents want their kids vaccinated, they can, but it shouldn’t be enforced,” she remarked.
The vital role of vaccines
Vaccines have been foundational to public health since the first effective polio vaccine was introduced in the U.S. in 1955. They help protect both children and adults from diseases that have plagued populations for centuries.
According to a recent NASN paper, timely vaccinations are critical for safeguarding school-aged children and the general public from serious, preventable infections. The organization advocates for eliminating vaccine exemptions unless there is a proven medical reason.
“We’re strongly committed to this cause,” stated Dr. Joshu Alabang, a primary care physician based in Miami.
Implications for Florida’s tourism sector
The impact of decreased vaccination rates on Florida’s tourism sector, a $128 billion industry, remains uncertain. Last year, Florida welcomed around 143 million visitors and has become a coveted destination in the U.S.
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other attractions no longer require proof of vaccination for staff, following a 2021 law that reduced employers’ power to impose such requirements. Representatives from these theme parks have not responded to queries regarding the potential effects of unvaccinated children.
In addition, Florida’s cruise line industry, valued at $24 billion, often does not have vaccination mandates. The CDC continues to recommend that passengers get vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu, depending on their travel destinations.
According to Alanfjohl, an associate dean at the University of Central Florida’s Hospitality College, the tourism sector relies on stability, and changes in vaccination requirements introduce various uncertainties. “It’s like tossing stones into a pond. The resulting ripples? Who knows how they’ll unfold,” he reflected.
