Vaccines are among the most important advances in modern medicine. A walk through an old cemetery makes this painfully clear: before the 1950s and 1960s, infant and child graves were heartbreakingly common. Once widespread childhood vaccination began, deaths from diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria, and whooping cough plummeted.
As nurse practitioner who is among the 82% of parents who want vaccine requirements, I cannot express strongly enough how much I oppose Dr. Ladapo’s Florida Department of Health proposed revisions to Rule 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code, to drop four vaccines (chicken pox, hepatitis B, Influenza type B, and pneumococcal conjugate) from the immunization requirements for school and childcare entry.
Dr. Ladapo has admitted that he has not conducted any data analysis to determine resultant infections, hospitalization, or deaths that would be caused by ending any of the vaccine requirements. This proposed rule change is not based on science and does not consider the costs, both financial and human. Removing these vaccine requirements would completely disregard concern for the health and welfare of a sizeable number of Floridians who are unable to receive vaccines because of they are too young or have certain medical conditions. Click here to submit comments before October 19, 2026.
School vaccination requirements protect public health. When students entering school are vaccinated, communities are protected from outbreaks of dangerous, highly contagious diseases. These policies create a protective barrier that dramatically reduces preventable illness, disability, and death. The elimination of these vaccine requirements runs contrary to the findings of many peer-reviewed studies and the recommendations of the AMA, AAP, and other highly respected medical organizations.
The evidence is clear. The hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have proven safe and effective at preventing serious disease and death. Many people in Florida are susceptible, including the very young and the elderly, as well as people of all ages who are receiving chemotherapy, have autoimmune disorders, or take immunosuppressant medications for a variety of conditions. The chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine has led to a 94% reduction in the annual death rate, mostly in young children.
Notably, the Hepatitis B vaccine has reduced childhood infections and subsequent premature deaths by 95%. Prior to vaccine 18,000 children in the US contracted hepatitis B every year before age 10 (1/2 infected at birth). Even though some will contract Influenza type b after getting their "flu shots", this vaccine reduces overall risk of flu-related death by 80% in children and all-cause mortality or severe complications by up to 65% in older adults and high-risk people. Finally, the Pneumoccal conjugate (bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia etc.) vaccine resulted in a drop in deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease in US by 97% post vaccine.
Studies have shown that weakening vaccine requirements lead to lower vaccination rates and increases in preventable diseases. We have a long history of requiring vaccines, dating back to George Washington’s mandate that Continental Army troops be inoculated against smallpox. This action may have saved the revolution.
Today, we are experiencing an alarming increase in measles cases due to declining vaccination rates. We need to focus on increasing vaccination rates, not fomenting distrust in science and medicine and pushing the false ideology that personal rights outweigh the good of the people. By allowing preventable diseases to recur in the US, the ability of many to safely be out in public will be taken away because they are too young or unable (medically) to receive vaccines. For example, a person taking immunosuppressant medications for autoimmune-related pulmonary fibrosis is unable to make the antibodies needed to fight preventable infections. Similarly, another who risks exposure to preventable diseases as an educator in Florida is vulnerable because of her cancer treatment. In short, removing vaccine requirements would be irresponsible.
Should the requirements for these four vaccines be removed, the consequences could be catastrophic for vulnerable people and could place a significant burden on our healthcare system. Some people will die from complications, and others will suffer long-term health problems associated with these diseases. Click here to submit comments before October 19, 2026.
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