Florida’s decision to eliminate vaccine mandates in schools will not be implemented for three months as initially planned, despite ongoing debates in the state of Florida.

Florida’s plan to eliminate school vaccine mandates will not take effect for 90 days and will initially apply to chickenpox and a few other illnesses. The health department clarified that the plan, announced by Florida’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, includes lifting mandates on vaccines for hepatitis B, Hib influenza, pneumococcal diseases such as meningitis, and chickenpox. The plan would allow families to decide whether to vaccinate their children, marking a shift from decades of public policy and research supporting the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. Critics, including lawmakers and health experts, have expressed concern over the decision, warning of potential outbreaks of preventable diseases. Florida currently offers a religious exemption for vaccine requirements, and the decision to make vaccines voluntary could put students and school staff at risk. The U.S. is currently experiencing its worst year for measles in over three decades, with more than 1,400 confirmed cases nationwide, most of them in Texas, and three deaths. Whooping cough has also claimed several lives, highlighting the importance of vaccinations in preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/07/florida-vaccine-mandates