Florida officials say they want to eliminate school vaccine mandates. It won’t be that simple.

By

Barbara Rodriguez , Nadra Nittle

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Republican officials in Florida announced this week that they want to eliminate all vaccine mandates for schools. It’s not that simple: It will require action from state lawmakers. But the announcement raises several questions about the future spread of infectious diseases and the disproportionate impact on infants, children, the elderly and immunocompromised people in the state and country.

In a news conference Wednesday, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said he wanted “to end all vaccine mandates in Florida law,” calling them “wrong” despite extensive evidence that they have halted the spread of disease and prevented death .

“Who am I as a government or anyone else — who am I as a