Overview

• The Florida Department of Health on Sept. 10 opened an administrative rule change to remove hepatitis B, Hib, varicella and pneumococcal vaccines from school-entry requirements, a process expected to take about three months.
• Vaccine requirements embedded in state law would remain in place unless the Legislature votes to change them.
• Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called school vaccine mandates unethical, likened them to slavery, and declined to say whether he recommends childhood vaccination.
• State and national medical groups, pediatricians and Florida’s teachers union criticized the rollback and said they will continue to encourage families to vaccinate.
• Supporters frame the move as parental choice, while President Donald Trump urged caution about removing mandates and Sen. Rick Scott voiced opposition.