“Any delay in getting those vaccines in a newborn or an infant can cause the infant to have these diseases and can have devastating results.” – Community Health Northwest Florida Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Klawitter on WEAR TV
Children have been protected for generations from harmful diseases like measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib, mumps, polio, and more through safe and effective vaccines.
Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-vaccine Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is once again playing politics with the health of Florida’s children and all Floridians. The Florida Department of Health, which Ladapo leads, has proposed ending vaccination requirements for hepatitis B and varicella (chickenpox) for school entry, as well as requirements for Haemophilus influenza Type b (Hib), and pneumococcal conjugate for children entering childcare and preschool.
This dangerous proposal flies in the face of medical science and puts Floridians at greater risk of disease. It is critical that Floridians speak out against this proposed rule right now. The deadline to express opposition is September 14.
Although this rule would not eliminate Florida’s measles vaccine requirement, the state’s worsening measles outbreak shows what is at stake when vaccination coverage rates fall. According to state data, Florida has already seen 156 measles cases this year – more cases of the highly contagious disease than the last 30 years combined.
Here’s the bottom line: Ending these childhood vaccine requirements in our state would be a costly mistake that puts the health, safety, and economic security of all Floridians, especially our children, at serious risk.
Thank you for being an important part of the Progress Florida network and for speaking out against this dangerous proposal.
Mark and the Progress Florida team
