Joseph Ladapo

The health department wants to remove the immunization requirements for hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate to attend Florida schools.

The state department of health is holding a hearing on the rule change Thursday, Oct. 8 in Orlando. Commenters have two minutes each to speak.

Most immunizations are mandated by legislation in Florida, but more recent vaccines dating to the 1980s and 1990s are governed by rules from the state health department, which are easier to change.

The state is moving forward with its push to end the requirement for four vaccines for children entering schools but has removed the words “sincerely held moral or ethical belief” from a proposed rule change.

As part of the state surgeon general's push for "medical freedom," Florida wants to change rules that require four vaccines for schools, daycare and adult education programs.

The disease was declared eliminated from the US in 2000, but outbreaks have increased in recent years as vaccine skepticism rises.

GOP gubernatorial candidate also supports DeSantis administration's proposed rule to drop four school vaccine mandates.

Monday is the deadline to comment on the health department's plan to strike four longstanding immunization requirements that the advocates say are safe and lifesaving.

A state plan would remove mandates on schoolchildren receiving shots for chickenpox, hepatitis B, Hib and pneumococcal disease. Comments can be made through Sept. 14.

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.

The health department is proposing a rule to remove hepatitis B, chickenpox, Hib and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine mandates for school attendance, a move that has been in play nearly a year.

Nothing has happened on a policy level. Yet, parents are confused, pediatricians are seeing vaccine hesitancy growing and exemption rates are the highest in a decade.