Doctors: Florida plan to repeal vaccine rules a 'direct threat' to health

Source: https://www.tallahassee.com

Florida’s medical community came out in force at a Department of Health workshop in the state's Panhandle, speaking out against the agency’s move to repeal vaccine requirements for children in public schools.

The meeting was held Dec. 12 in Panama City. Pediatricians and public health workers from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Naples and Gainesville used their two minutes of public comment time to describe the problems they saw before certain vaccines were available and pleaded with state officials to keep vaccine mandates.

"I'm here to beseech you: please do not change this rule, which will set in motion the dismantling of the successful lifesaving system of public health," said Dr. Paul Arons, former head of the state's HIV/AIDS program from 1989 to 2007. That was before his time was up and the microphone cut off.

The workshop is the first step in repealing a rule that requires Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for public school attendance – a move DOH head and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced in September. (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines help prevent pneumonia and meningitis, among other illnesses.)

Emma Spencer, the department's director for public health statistics and performance management, said the rule change is "grounded in policy based on considerations that favor parental rights and medical freedom."

Officials at the meeting would not say whether there would be any more workshops, but did say any future public meetings would be posted in the Florida Administrative Register, the state’s official daily publication for proposed rules and public notices.

The state health department also has not yet estimated how much the rule change will cost, which is required by state law.

According to the agency's proposal, the Hepatitis B, chicken pox and Hib vaccinations would not be required for children enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. For licensed child care facilities and family daycare homes, chicken pox, Hib and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines will no longer be required.

The state already does allow for religious exemptions "if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child's parent or guardian," according to the health department. But it also wants to change this part of the rule, expanding the exemption for any "sincerely held moral or ethical belief."

Officials also want to allow parents, guardians and college and university applicants aged 18-23 the option to decline to participate in documenting their vaccination status in the Florida SHOTS program, which is how the state collects vaccination data.

Parental rights groups and anti-vaccination advocates spoke in favor of the repeal, citing parents' rights and medical freedom. They did, however, repeat unfounded claims, such as pediatricians making money by providing vaccines and that vaccines cause autism.

"The smug way that they sit back there and act like they're above all of us makes me want to throw up," said a speaker named Rick Frye, who wore a grey beanie that said "tin foil."

Many supporters of the rule change also spoke against the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR), which is not one of the vaccines DOH is able to repeal. That vaccine, along with polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus, requires legislative action. As of Dec. 12, a bill had not been filed for the upcoming legislative session that starts Jan. 13.