Florida has become the first state in the nation to eliminate vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced Wednesday.
The sweeping change means that students attending K-12 schools — public or private — will no longer need proof of vaccination against illnesses such as measles, rubella, or polio. Parents will not be asked to submit medical or religious exemptions, a longstanding practice in the state and across much of the country.
“Every last one of them [vaccines] is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo said during the announcement, in remarks that immediately drew national attention.
The new policy is part of what DeSantis described as a broader push for “medical freedom.” He also unveiled a new initiative, the Make America Healthy Again commission, which the governor said will focus on “informed consent, parental rights, and freedom of choice in health care.”
Falling Vaccination Rates
Florida’s decision comes as vaccination rates for children have been declining both nationwide and within the state. According to the Florida Department of Health, 93.5% of kindergarteners were vaccinated in 2020. That number fell to 89.8% in 2024, and this school year dropped again, to 88.7%.
The Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) reported this summer that vaccination rates in Central Florida reached a 20-year low. In some counties, more than 15% of children are exempt from routine vaccines.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 3.6% of children received vaccine exemptions during the 2024-25 school year — the highest figure ever recorded. Florida’s exemption rate, at more than 6%, was nearly double the national average.
Local Concerns
The shift has already stirred debate among educators, parents, and health professionals. Earlier this year, schools in South Florida reported an uptick in religious exemptions, particularly in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
With exemptions no longer required, some worry that Florida schools could see an accelerated decline in vaccination rates. Public health experts have historically credited childhood vaccination programs with nearly eradicating diseases such as polio and drastically reducing outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.
FASA leaders have warned that lower vaccination rates could lead to increased vulnerability to outbreaks. “When communities fall below certain thresholds of vaccination, diseases that we haven’t seen in years can make a comeback,” the group’s August report stated.
A National Flashpoint
Florida’s move is likely to intensify the national debate over vaccines, individual rights, and public health responsibilities. DeSantis has long positioned himself as a critic of federal health mandates, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporters of the change argue that parents, not the government, should decide what medical interventions their children receive. Critics counter that the decision undermines public safety and could put vulnerable children — including those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons — at greater risk.
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