Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Florida Looks To Reduce Number Of Vaccines Required For Public School Attendance
Florida is set to roll back four vaccine requirements for children attending the state’s public schools, according to a new rule published Monday by the state Department of Health. The proposed guidelines come after Florida’s surgeon general launched an effort last fall to eliminate all vaccine mandates for school children. The rule would allow Florida children to attend school without receiving immunizations for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcal disease. The Department of Health purports that the proposed rule eliminates vaccine mandates for shots that aren’t required under state law. (Monnin, 8/24)
Catholic bishops in Florida are warning the state's attorney general to respect their religious liberty when it comes to parochial schools' approach to vaccine exemptions. Florida's Catholic schools do not accept religious exemptions for vaccines. In a letter to Attorney General James Uthmeier, made public last week, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said Florida bishops don't have to justify their position, but are doing so "out of respect for you and your office." (Boden, 8/24)
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Byron Donalds says he'd like to "study and really engage it" before making a decision about whether to repeal statutory vaccine requirements for schools. (Perry, 8/24)
In the wake of a controversial executive order that shrinks the number of universally recommended vaccines for children, HHS is asking the public to weigh in on whether three categories used in federal vaccine recommendations are adequate. The three categories up for discussion are routine, risk-based, and shared clinical decision-making. The agency is seeking input on whether it should implement additional or different categories. (Henderson, 8/24)
Also —
With kids returning to school amid the worst year of measles in more than 30 years and as a record number of children report exemptions from vaccines, the likelihood that the spread of measles will worsen is all but certain according to public health leaders. The majority of U.S. public schools will have begun their 2026-27 academic years by the end of August, and students will be returning as the country has recorded nearly 3,000 measles cases across 47 jurisdictions and 36 new outbreaks this year. (Choi, 8/24)
Maryland officials declared a measles outbreak in three counties as cases continue to rise, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Scarglato, 8/24)
