Florida Proposes Dropping Several School Vaccine Mandates

Florida's Department of Health has proposed a rule that would eliminate requirements for hepatitis B, varicella, Hib, and pneumococcal vaccines for school and daycare enrollment. The rule would also broaden religious exemptions to include any moral or ethical beliefs and allow objections to sharing vaccination information in a state database. The proposal follows Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo's earlier pledge to end all vaccine requirements, and comes amid a dispute with Catholic schools over exemptions.