URGENT! For Immediate Release: September 23, 2025
President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW). president@flnow.org
Orlando, FL — Florida NOW strongly opposes the recent decision by Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to eliminate all vaccine mandates for children in Florida schools. “This reckless policy reversal endangers the health of our children, undermines decades of public health progress, and disproportionately harms women and marginalized communities,” said Julie Kent, President FL NOW.
At a September 3rd press conference, Ladapo announced the end of all vaccine mandates in Florida, including those for polio, measles, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. This move makes Florida the first state in the nation to dismantle its immunization requirements for school-aged children; a decision that experts warn will lead to preventable outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths.
A Patchwork of Protection: How Other States Are Responding
While Florida retreats from science, other states are stepping up:
- Massachusetts now requires insurance companies to cover all state-recommended vaccines, regardless of federal guidance.
- California, Oregon, and Washington have formed a public health alliance to issue unified, evidence-based vaccine recommendations.
- New York and New Mexico have empowered pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccines directly.
- Pennsylvania and Colorado are expanding access through executive orders and pharmacy board rulings6.
These states recognize that vaccines are not political—they are life-saving tools. They are acting to preserve access and affordability, especially for vulnerable populations.
Lived Experience vs. Public Health Reality
We understand that some parents’ vaccine hesitancy stems from fear, misinformation, or personal anecdotes. But lived experience, while valid, is not a substitute for data. Most of us haven’t lived through a major outbreak that cripples and kills us like polio. History is clear:
- Childhood vaccines have prevented over 24 million cases of disease in the U.S. in just one year.
- Since 1994, vaccines have averted 732,000 deaths and 322 million cases of illness.
- Globally, vaccines have saved 150 million children over the past 50 years.
Vaccine efficacy is conclusive per these links: Vaccine Effectiveness | COVID-19 | CDC, and VIP Evidence Review Executive Summary – Final.pdf. Globally, vaccines have saved 154 million lives over 50 years.
The CDC estimates that vaccines given to children born between 1994 and 2018 will prevent:
- 419 million illnesses
- 936,000 deaths
- $1.9 trillion in societal costs
The science is conclusive and irrefutable.
Importance of Mandates
When mandates are removed, vaccination rates drop. In Florida, kindergarten immunization rates have already fallen from 93.5% in 2020 to 88.7% in 2025. This erosion of herd immunity puts entire communities at risk, especially children with compromised immune systems and families without access to healthcare.
Gendered Impact
Women—especially mothers—bear the brunt of caregiving when children fall ill. The rollback of vaccine mandates will:
- Increase unpaid labor for women
- Exacerbate health disparities in low-income and rural communities
- Undermine trust in science and public institutions
Florida NOW Demands Action
“We call on the Florida Legislature to reject this dangerous policy and reaffirm its commitment to public health. We must let our representatives know we are stunned by the stupidity of this action for not just the health of FL but the rest of the country too. We urge school boards, pediatricians, and community leaders to speak out. And we demand that vaccine access be protected for all Floridians, regardless of income, geography, or political ideology. Vaccines are not optional. They are essential,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW.
Contact: Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW, vp@now.org, 407 234-6408
