Pollster says the majority Floridians favoring vaccines in schools is not changing.
A new poll shows Florida voters like access to vaccines in schools and they want to keep it that way.
A survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates political research and strategy firm shows a vast majority of Floridians support maintaining vaccine requirements in public school. The survey conducted between April 20 to April 23 also shows support for vaccines is not waning, either.
About eight out of every 10 Florida voters say they support keeping current vaccine safeguards in place. The latest poll also shows support for vaccines in public schools remains strong and matches a survey conducted Jan. 5 – 8. That poll concluded a heavy majority of voters were in favor of vaccines.
The Florida Senate approved a bill (SB 1756) known as the Medical Freedom Act during its regular session, but the measure died because the House did not give the go ahead. Still, Jacksonville Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough is preparing a similar bill for the upcoming Special Legislative Session and his bill would allow for family exemptions to vaccines in schools due to religious or personal reasons.
Republican pollster Jim McLaughlin, a longtime GOP strategist and a pollster for President Donald Trump, said the latest survey confirms that voter favorability of vaccine policies in schools is not a shifting or fragile opinion.
“This is a durable consensus,” said McLaughlin. “You’re seeing nearly eight in 10 voters support the current law, a majority opposed to changing it, and large majorities moving even more strongly in that direction when they consider the consequences. That tells you this issue holds up with voters.”
Additionally, McLaughlin said an overwhelming majority of voters see no reason to modify current Florida school policies governing vaccines.