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Florida Ends Vaccine Mandates

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Florida Ends Vaccine Mandates

What it means for public health and dentistry

Florida has decided to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those for schoolchildren. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, called requirements “immoral” and compared them to slavery. The move strips away long-standing safeguards against diseases like measles, mumps, polio, chickenpox, and hepatitis B. Florida is the first state in the nation to eliminate vaccine requirements entirely, marking a significant departure from decades of public health policy.

The American Medical Association (AMA) wasted no time blasting the decision. Dr. Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, an AMA trustee, warned that the rollback “undermines decades of public health progress” and could leave children vulnerable to severe illness, disability, or death. The AMA urged Florida leaders to reconsider before preventable outbreaks spread. Meanwhile, the American Dental Association has not issued a statement, leaving dentists to interpret the situation independently.


What this means for dentistry
For dental offices in Florida, the immediate effect is less about paperwork and more about risk. Without state mandates, dental staff are no longer legally required to be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. That removes a layer of protection in a profession that works in close quarters with patients and aerosolized fluids.

Dentists should expect more exposure to unvaccinated children and adults. That means a higher risk of measles, mumps, pertussis, and varicella entering the operatory. Immunocompromised patients and children who rely on herd immunity are especially at risk.

While Florida has stripped mandates, the CDC continues to recommend vaccinations for all health care workers. Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, and varicella remain essential for infection control. The best practice for dental offices is to continue offering staff vaccinations, keep signed declination forms for those who refuse, and communicate openly with patients about the steps being taken to protect them.


The bigger picture
Florida’s decision highlights a growing national divide. On the West Coast, governors in California, Oregon, and Washington just formed the West Coast Health Alliance, pledging to uphold science-based immunization guidelines regardless of federal turbulence. While some regions double down on public health, others are dismantling its foundation. The result is a fractured country where vaccine policy is determined by geography.

Public health experts warn that this patchwork approach will lead to confusion, erode trust, and exacerbate outbreaks. One infectious disease specialist summed it up grimly: Without mandates, diseases we thought were a thing of the past could make a comeback. Diphtheria, polio, and measles may not just be names in old medical textbooks. They could return to waiting rooms, classrooms, and yes, dental operatories.


A lesson in perspective
Many clinicians are trying to put history at the forefront. One skeptical student was sent to a cemetery to read the gravestones of families who died together during a diphtheria outbreak in the 1800s. Others share stories of parents who survived polio and now live with post-polio syndrome decades later. These reminders make clear what happens when vaccines are neglected.

The irony is sharp. Generations of physicians fought to bring preventable diseases under control. Now, misinformation and political theater are undoing that progress in real time.


Practical advice for dentists
Keep your office policies rooted in evidence, not politics. Follow CDC and ADA recommendations regardless of state mandates. Maintain vaccine offerings for staff. Use clear communication with patients to explain how your practice minimizes infection risks. Share stories that put vaccines in perspective. If patients question the value, point out the obvious: Dental practices are safer when preventable diseases stay out of the building.


Final thought
Florida’s policy shift is more than a headline. It raises the question of whether public health in America is still guided by science or if it has been influenced by ideology. For dentists, it serves as a reminder that infection control begins at the office door, regardless of what state lawmakers decide.

What do you think? If your state were to repeal all vaccine mandates tomorrow, how would you adjust your practice policies to keep your team and patients safe? 

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