The Department of Health is proposing to remove four vaccines, hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate from immunization requirements for students attending public and private PreK-12 schools. The proposed rule, backed by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, is subject to a 21-day public comment period that began August 24. The proposal would also broaden religious vaccine exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs and allow parents and college students to opt out of having immunization records included in the state vaccine database. The four vaccines targeted by the rule are required under agency rules rather than state law, allowing the department to repeal the requirements without legislative action. Existing state law would continue to require vaccinations against diseases including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.