The eyes of infectious diseases experts and pediatricians may be turned to Florida as the state proposes to roll back certain vaccination requirements for schools and day care centers. 

On September 3, 2025, the Florida Department of Health initiated rule changes to the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) to remove requirements for childhood immunizations in Florida law that are not required for school entry by Florida Statute, a media spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health told Medscape Medical News.

“The proposed changes include the removal of the hepatitis B, varicella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines from the immunization requirements,” the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News. “All other vaccinations required by Statute for school entry in Florida remain in place, unless updated through legislation. This includes vaccines for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus,” the spokesperson said.

“Medical freedoms are the focus, and these vaccines will remain available to families throughout Florida,” the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News. “The update does not limit access to vaccines and instead removes the state mandate for the stated vaccines in Rule 64D-3.046, FAC, and parents are encouraged to consult with their healthcare providers when making healthcare decisions for their children,” the spokesperson said.

The rule change is not effective immediately, and the department anticipates that the rule change will not be effective for approximately 90 days, according to the spokesperson.

The latest changes in vaccination protocols for children do not appear to reflect the general public’s opinion about school vaccines; recent data from a survey conducted by KFF and The Washington Post showed that approximately 80% of parents in Florida and nationally in fact support school vaccination requirements.

Potential Implications for Child and Community Health

The American Medical Association issued a statement that opposed Florida’s planned elimination of vaccine mandates, and urged the state to reconsider, given the potential for a spike in illness, disability, and death that could result from increased rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.

In addition, infectious disease commentator Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, noted in a recent post in Your Local Epidemiologist that looser vaccination requirements in Florida may result in fewer pediatrician visits in the state overall. For some families, school vaccination requirements are the nudge needed for an office visit that then provides opportunities for screening for developmental delays, vision or hearing problems, undiagnosed asthma or allergies, and first signs of child abuse or neglect, Jetelina wrote. “Many families delay care until it becomes necessary, and kindergarten is a well-documented trigger: Epidemiologists consistently see a sharp spike in vaccine uptake at age 5,” she noted.

The potential ripple effects of ending required school vaccination would extend through communities and impact all ages, Rana Alissa, MD, president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a press release following the announced plan to rollback the requirements. “Removing policies that keep our children healthy creates unnecessary confusion and fear,” Alissa said. “Schools are tight-knit networks of children, educators, and families, making it easy for contagious diseases to spread. Widespread childhood immunization helps keep children and teachers focused on learning, keeps caregivers at work instead of at home with sick children, and allows families to safely participate in community activities,” she added.

In addition, lower pediatric vaccinations that could result from removing the requirement would put infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals of all ages at increased risk for infectious diseases, Alissa said in the statement. Lower vaccination rates would promote the spread of disease more easily in all public spaces, from Florida’s popular theme parks to doctors’ waiting rooms, she said.