Parents in Florida have mixed reactions to the state's latest announcement of scrapping all vaccine mandates, including those for schoolchildren.
This comes after Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo advocated for ending the state's vaccine mandates. His announcement prompted discussions among parents and health experts regarding the possible effects it could have on children's health and parental choice.
Florida's Vaccine Mandates
A mother who lives in Central Florida, Hanica Arthur, is among those who support the idea of parental choice. She said that giving parents the choice of vaccinating their kids feels like a step in the right direction.
Arthur decided not to have her one-year-old son vaccinated, saying that nothing in the hospital or during their wellness visits, or with their pediatrician had supported them in their decision. The mother emphasized that her child's doctor is not anti-vaccine but rather pro-parent choice.
The mother noted that parents are allowed to make decisions that they believe are the best for their children and not simply follow the government or a group of professionals who she believes are pushing their own agenda, according to WESH.
On the other hand, Candace DeMatteis, from the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, expressed concern about the development. She is worried about the potential consequences of ending vaccine mandates across the state.
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She noted that the idea is "highly concerning," adding that it is very predictable what the consequences will be, as they can be seen throughout history. Currently, the Florida Department of Health requires vaccinations for children in schools. This includes shots against polio, measles-mumps-rubella, and chickenpox.
Additionally, doctors and public health workers fear that dreaded diseases, which are kept in check by vaccines, could rise if a lot of residents in Florida avoid getting immunized. Ladapo called the vaccine mandates "immoral" intrusions that hamper parents' ability to make health decisions for their kids, the Associated Press reported.
Potential Consequences
The president of the National Association of School Nurses, Lynn Nelson, said that if lawmakers are able to move forward with scrapping vaccine mandates, they are opening a door to a health crisis that is "100% preventable."
Despite the latest announcement, a survey showed that parents overwhelmingly support current legislation that requires children to get vaccinated against various diseases. The latest one showed that 81% of parents across the United States support these mandates.
The survey also showed that only 18% of parents said that public schools should not have requirements of measles or polio vaccines for students, as per KFF.
