Florida, Texas Ease School Vaccine Rules Amid Controversy

Several U.S. states are moving to ease vaccine mandates and increase exemptions for schoolchildren amid ongoing debates over vaccine safety and parental rights. Florida plans to make vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib influenza, and pneumococcal diseases optional for school attendance, with the change expected to take effect in about 90 days; however, vaccines for more critical diseases like measles and polio remain mandatory unless lawmakers decide otherwise. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo emphasized parental choice in vaccination decisions, aligning with skepticism expressed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Meanwhile, Alabama, ranking near the bottom nationally in vaccination rates, is considering a bill to make it easier for parents to claim religious exemptions without providing a reason. Texas has simplified the exemption process by allowing parents to download a notarized conscientious-exemption affidavit online, a change that follows a recent measles outbreak but has raised concerns among public health officials about potential increases in exemptions. These state-level policy shifts reflect a growing trend emphasizing parental control over vaccination decisions despite longstanding evidence supporting vaccine safety and effectiveness.