ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida health officials are considering a proposal that would remove requirements for four vaccines in K-12 public and private schools and broaden the list of exemptions available to families.
The Florida Department of Health would stop requiring the Hepatitis B vaccine, Varicella vaccine, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine, and Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine.
Leslie Kirschenbaum has two grade school-aged children, one homeschooled and the other in private school. She hopes the proposal is approved.
“I do believe that a parent’s decision with their physician and child’s doctor out rules any law that is in place,” Kirschenbaum said.
Dr. Aftab Khan is an internal and primary care physician. He says he supports medical and religious exemptions, but adds that herd immunity protects the children who can’t be vaccinated.
“In order to achieve herd immunity, 90 to 95% of children have to be vaccinated in order to protect not only themselves but other kids attending schools,” Khan said.
Florida has an 88.9% vaccination rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last September, Dr. Joseph Ladapo discussed plans to end vaccine mandates in Florida.
“The Florida Department of Health, in partnership with the governor, is going to be working to end all vaccine mandates in Florida law,” Ladapo said.
He did not provide comment about the new proposal when Spectrum News 13 reached out to his office.
Khan said many parents have questions about immunizations and should discuss those concerns with a physician.
“So a lot of time, the parents have one question,” Khan said. “That if a child had antibodies transmitted from to mother to child during childbirth, why do they need vaccination?”
He says kids don’t get antibodies from their mothers for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, influenza and pneumonia.
He also hears questions about children being overburdened with antigens, which he says was an issue between the 60s and 80s, but today’s vaccines are much more refined and only cause mild side effects.
“Another concern of parents is why their children are getting a combination and simultaneous vaccines at the same time,” he said. “It has been a practice of immunization for decades. Children are getting measles, mumps, and rubella in combination. Children are getting diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in combination without having a serious side effects.”
The Florida Department of State is accepting public comment on its website.