“Eliminating vaccine mandates for school children in Florida is not merely a rollback of generations of preventative health policy—it is a profound threat to public safety. Most organized medical societies like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association, the Florida Medical Association and the National Association of School Nurses warn that this move erodes decades of progress in controlling highly contagious, preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis and chicken pox. Vaccines have been one of public health’s most effective defenses in preventing communicable diseases.
Lowered immunization rates not only negatively impact our children but also adult caregivers, school personnel and the immune compromised.
Moreover, the long-term harm is not only medical—it’s economic as well. Illness leads to school absenteeism among students, which translates to parents missing work, putting further strain on households, small businesses and communities.
Let’s be clear, this proposed policy is not about freedom—it’s about relinquishing vital safeguards that protect our children, our schools, and our communities. The risks are real, avoidable, and can be averted by maintaining vaccination requirements. Otherwise, we are playing with fire at the expense of public health.” –Dr. Sunil Joshi, Chief Health Officer, City of Jacksonville
About the City of Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the contiguous United States, serving one million residents. City of Jacksonville leadership includes Mayor Donna Deegan and a 19-member City Council led by President Kevin Carrico. To learn more, visit jacksonville.gov.