As a mom, when I heard the announcement yesterday about Florida planning to remove school vaccine mandates, my first thought was about my own kids: what does this mean for their safety?
Almost immediately, parents began asking me questions. Some are nervous, but most are simply confused. They want to understand what this really means for their families.
My role as a pediatrician isn’t to tell parents what to do, it’s to educate, provide clear information, and support families in making the choices that are right for them. So, here are answers to the most common questions I’ve received.
Florida’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, announced that the state plans to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates, including requirements for measles, mumps, polio, chickenpox, and others in both public and private schools.
Currently, children are expected to receive these vaccines before starting school, though parents can request medical or religious exemptions. Without mandates, vaccination would become optional unless families choose it. Some requirements the Department of Health oversees could be removed quickly, while others would require legislative changes.
Florida already allows:
So families already have the ability to say no. Mandates simply made vaccination the default expectation for school entry, with the option to opt out. Without mandates, opting out becomes the default.
Some parents see the removal of mandates as a victory. Reasons include:
It’s important to acknowledge these feelings. At the same time, families have always had the ability to decline vaccines in Florida. What changes now isn’t the ability to say no, it’s the removal of the strong public health message about why saying yes matters.
Yes. Some may think: “If vaccines are no longer required, does that mean they weren’t safe?”
That’s not true. This change is about policy, not safety. Vaccines remain safe and effective.
This distinction matters, because vaccines protect not just one child but the entire community. When rates are high, outbreaks don’t happen. When they fall, everyone, including vaccinated kids, faces more risk.
As pediatricians, we balance both:
Both are essential.
Mandates help keep vaccination the community standard. Families could always opt out, but most followed the expectation, and this protected the community as a whole. Without mandates, vaccination rates usually decline further, and even a small drop can allow outbreaks to happen.
In 2025, Texas had its largest measles outbreak in decades. The CDC reported that 96% of cases were in unvaccinated or unknown-status children.
This outbreak showed how quickly measles can return when coverage drops, even in the U.S.
Vaccinated children are much better protected than unvaccinated children, but they are still at greater risk in low-vaccination communities.
Here’s why:
So, vaccinated kids are far better off if exposed, but they are safest when surrounded by other vaccinated children.
Yes. School is not only essential for learning but also for social, emotional, and developmental growth. Homeschooling is a choice some families make, but avoiding school out of fear of outbreaks is not the solution to community health.
The best protection is still vaccination, both for your child and for those around them. And schools, even without mandates, remain important places for children’s well-being.
I hear this argument often: “If we don’t see polio, why vaccinate against it?”
The truth is, these diseases are still present. Measles is circulating in the U.S., as we saw with the recent Texas outbreak, and polio has been detected in wastewater in New York. While we may not currently see them here in Florida, they are only a plane ride away. With today’s travel, illnesses move quickly across states and countries.
When vaccination rates are high, these diseases have a harder time spreading. But if mandates are removed and fewer children are vaccinated, the risk rises sharply. That’s exactly how measles returned in Texas.
So the idea that vaccines aren’t needed because diseases are “gone” doesn’t hold true. They are still out there, and without strong coverage, they are more likely to make their way back.
All vaccine-preventable diseases are concerning, but some would reappear faster than others if rates drop:
1–3 years: Measles, Pertussis (whooping cough) — spread quickly and could surge soon.
3–5 years: Mumps, Chickenpox — outbreaks likely to return in group settings.
5+ years: Polio, Hib, Pneumococcal disease — slower, but very serious.
Here’s where things stand for kindergarten vaccination rates (2025 data):
Sarasota County~79%
Hillsborough County~86%
Pinellas County~88% (est.)
Hardee County~95%
Florida (statewide)~88.7%
When we talk about “herd immunity,” the exact percentage needed depends on the disease. Measles has one of the highest thresholds, about 95% coverage, because it spreads so easily. Pertussis (whooping cough) also requires very high coverage, around 92–94%, to keep outbreaks at bay. Polio, while less contagious, still needs about 80–86% coverage to prevent spread. The challenge is that when overall vaccination rates fall, it’s not just measles we worry about, different diseases re-emerge at different thresholds. This means that communities with coverage in the high 80s, like much of Tampa Bay, are already vulnerable not only to measles but also to other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Not really. Whether kids are in school, daycare, sports, camps, or playdates, germs spread the same way. Activities can even mix children from different neighborhoods, which may spread infections faster.
All families will feel some impact, but those with barriers to healthcare access may be hit hardest. Some parents want to vaccinate but fall behind because of transportation, work schedules, or other challenges.
When outbreaks happen, these families may face the hardest consequences: missed school, missed work, healthcare bills, and illness.
Most families with doubts that I meet aren’t firmly “for” or “against” vaccines, they’re confused and looking for answers. Sometimes they feel like their questions aren’t welcome in healthcare settings.
In my practice, I make space for in-depth, respectful conversations. Parents share their concerns, I share information, and together we make decisions that fit their child and their values.
At our practice, we are committed to supporting both the families we care for now and those who may join us in the future. We know the news about vaccine mandates has left many parents with new concerns and questions, and we want to provide a safe place to talk through them. Every family comes with a different background, perspective, and comfort level, and our goal is to meet each where they are.
Some of the ways we work together include:
We recognize that these steps can sometimes bring new worries, but our commitment is to walk alongside families—helping them feel heard, supported, and confident in finding the plan that works best for their child.
As a mom, I want my children, and all children, to grow up in communities where diseases like measles and polio stay in the past.
As a pediatrician, I know vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have to keep children safe, but I also understand they can feel like one of the most overwhelming decisions for parents. I will always hear how scared parents feel, and I often see both children and parents cry during shots. I see the side effects that do happen, most often mild, like soreness or a fever, and we walk through those together. Over the past decade, I’ve cared for many families, and while I’ve heard parents say, ‘I wish I had vaccinated’ after their child became ill, I have never heard a parent say they regreted vaccinating. That perspective, along with the very real emotions that come with these decisions, shapes how I guide families, with compassion, honesty, and the reassurance that we will navigate this together.
My hope is that families will keep asking questions, keep talking with their doctors, and keep making thoughtful choices with support and good information. That’s how parental choice and community health can work together.
This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about your child’s health or vaccines.
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