The state of Florida is planning on ending all vaccine mandates, including school vaccine mandates. The state’s surgeon general Joseph Ladapo has led the charge to implement the strongest protections in the country for medical freedom regarding vaccines.
Currently, every state in the US has vaccine requirements for school entry. However, exemptions to the requirements vary by state. Every state offers a medical exemption, most states offer religious exemptions, and a handful of states allow personal exemptions to school vaccine requirements.
States with personal exemptions to vaccine requirements currently have the strongest medical freedom protections in this regard, since you can use a personal vaccine exemption to opt-out of school vaccine requirements for practically any reason.
If Florida changes their laws to eliminate all school vaccine requirements, they will easily become the best state for medical freedom when it comes to vaccines in the United States.
There are many opponents to this policy proposal, with many of them stating fears that eliminating vaccine mandates will lead to endless outbreaks of disease. However, many developed countries don’t have vaccine mandates. These are a few examples:
Most of Canada:
This may seem surprising, but most of Canada’s provinces do not implement any vaccine requirements for schools.
Ireland:
Ireland does not have school vaccine mandates.
Sweden:
This country has no vaccine mandates.
New Zealand:
Vaccines are voluntary for school attendance.
Sources:
Florida aims to ban vaccine mandates for schoolchildren
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg0e485wwwo
State Vaccine Laws & Exemptions
https://www.nvic.org/law-policy-state
Ireland- Vaccinations for children and young people
https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health-services/children-s-health/vaccinations-for-children
Quote: Vaccination is not compulsory but is strongly advised by the Department of Health. You should discuss any concerns you may have with your GP (family doctor) before making a decision about your child’s immunisation.
Canada- https://app–vax-exempt-guide-c187f174.base44.app/Canada
New Zealand- Schools & Kura
Quote:
Do I have to be vaccinated to go to school?
No. Students who haven’t been immunised (vaccinated) cannot be prevented from enrolling at school. However, the Ministry of Health recommends that all children complete their immunisations on time, particularly before starting school.
