Florida plans to stop school vaccine mandates. These states could follow.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Campaign Against Vaccine Mandates Gains Momentum

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ramping up his federally-focused crusade against vaccines, with supporters eager to dismantle existing mandates in schools and health care facilities across the nation.

Anti-vaccine advocates are now zeroing in on states like Louisiana, Texas, and Idaho, urging their governors to emulate Florida’s recent efforts to eliminate vaccination requirements for students. These activists, buoyed by recent legislative successes, are poised to confront significant political hurdles within their own party that will test the extent to which Republican leaders are willing to cater to the anti-vaccine faction.

This pivotal moment for Republican governors and lawmakers coincides with a heightened vaccine debate in Washington, where the controversial testimony of ousted CDC head Susan Monarez is set to unfold, and a potential softening of vaccine recommendations from advisory committees looms. Kennedy has already shifted federal guidance, now advocating annual Covid shots only for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, rather than for all Americans aged six months and older.

“Republicans find themselves in a bind,” commented Dorit Reiss, a legal expert in vaccine policy. “They want to avoid directly opposing the president’s policies while also not alienating the constituents who support childhood vaccinations. It’s a delicate balancing act in an environment laden with potential pitfalls.”

In Louisiana, lobbyists are gearing up to revive a “medical freedom” bill that floundered last year, now expanded to target school vaccination mandates.

“The climate is ripe for this initiative,” stated Jill Hines, co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana, an anti-vaccine organization. “The dialogue has already started, thanks to Florida paving the way.”

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has seized upon public discontent with pandemic restrictions, and Jackie Schlegel, president of Texans for Medical Freedom, has promised “sweeping reforms in the near future.”

“Legislators are discussing empowering parents as the ultimate decision-makers, rather than the CDC or local school districts,” she noted.

Idaho lawmakers are also expected to enhance a broad “medical freedom” law enacted earlier this year that restricts businesses and schools from imposing “medical interventions,” including vaccinations, albeit with some exemptions.

However, the political landscape for dismantling vaccination mandates in schools—requirements that health experts credit with maintaining high vaccination rates—remains intricate. Polls indicate that a significant majority of Americans, including many Republicans, favor such mandates for schoolchildren. President Donald Trump’s own pollster cautioned against misinterpreting the opposition to Covid vaccines as indicative of a broader anti-vaccine sentiment among Republican voters, warning that such a mistake would be “folly.”

Nonetheless, the MAHA movement, composed of individuals who share Kennedy’s skepticism regarding vaccine safety, is emerging as a formidable force within the Republican party, broadening its appeal and energizing some voters to rally behind Trump. Notably, a recent Bellwether Research poll revealed that nearly 25% of surveyed women harbor doubts about the safety of vaccines administered in the U.S.

As the legislative sessions loom in the coming months, no other state officials have publicly declared intentions to replicate Florida’s approach. However, public health experts remain wary that Governor Ron DeSantis’s actions could trigger a domino effect across Republican-controlled states. Florida has taken the lead in removing school mandates, with its health department advancing rules to eliminate requirements for four vaccines, including chickenpox. Any moves to abolish mandates for measles and polio would necessitate legislative action.

“I suspect other red states are closely monitoring Florida, weighing their options on whether to follow suit,” remarked Jennifer Kates, a senior vice president at KFF, a health research organization. “This is far from settled.”

In the wake of the pandemic, Republican-led states have enacted a wave of legislation granting more exemptions to school vaccine mandates based on religious or personal beliefs. The dream of outright bans in schools or medical facilities has long been on anti-vaxxers’ wishlists; now, they believe Kennedy’s stance creates a favorable political climate.

Aaron Siri, a vaccine injury attorney advising the Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine group crafting model state legislation, stated, “Mandates are instruments of coercion wielded by bullies, criminals, and dictators.”

However, like-minded factions may struggle to find state lawmakers willing to champion their desired legislation. Some legislators who have previously supported loosening state requirements believe they have exhausted all politically viable options.

Louisiana Rep. Kathy Edmonston acknowledged the influence of Kennedy’s MAHA movement, suggesting it has sparked “a fresh perspective on public health.” Yet, the Republican, who has sponsored laws prohibiting schools from mandating Covid vaccinations and requiring parental notification of exemption rights, declared, “I have no intention of altering our current course.”

“We have unified support on this issue,” she continued. “While we’re insisting that parents vaccinate their children, we’re also informing them of their right to opt-out if it conflicts with their beliefs.” Louisiana already boasts one of the most lenient school vaccine policies in the nation, allowing parents to request exemptions for any reason. Notably, no school system in the U.S. mandates Covid vaccinations.

Alabama state Rep. Mack Butler recently reintroduced legislation simplifying the process for parents seeking religious exemptions, allowing them to submit a simple note to their child’s school instead of requiring written objections and approval from local health officials. Still, he has not encountered any proposals aimed at eliminating requirements entirely, and he referred to vaccines for mumps, measles, and polio as “proven and reliable.”

Health policy experts express concern over the potential for GOP leaders to circumvent legislative processes to undermine vaccine policies. In Louisiana, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham ordered the health department to cease promoting mass vaccinations last year. Meanwhile, although West Virginia lawmakers rejected a religious exemption bill in March, Governor Patrick Morrisey swiftly enacted an executive order allowing families to bypass vaccine requirements based on religious grounds shortly after taking office. This has plunged West Virginia into legal disputes regarding the implications of the governor’s directive and the state Board of Education’s decision to uphold vaccine requirements while the legal proceedings unfold.

The rising tide of anti-vaccine sentiment puts additional pressure on state health officials to safeguard against attempts to erode mandates, as seen in Mississippi, where the medical leadership has remained resolute.

“We have a knowledgeable legislature that values evidence-based medicine, recognizing the crucial role of vaccines in preventing unnecessary fatalities,” asserted Katherine Pannel, president of the Mississippi State Medical Association. “They have effectively thwarted any legislation aimed at weakening vaccine requirements.”

Florida is likely to encounter legal challenges that could delay or prevent any repeal of vaccine mandates from taking effect, cautioned James Hodge, a vaccine law professor at Arizona State University.

“Florida is currently in a state of flux,” Hodge remarked. “We are closely monitoring their actions and the extent of their legal maneuvers.”

Health advocates in Florida are gearing up for a robust opposition campaign, aiming to send a clear warning about the extreme political and health risks associated with such measures to other red states.

“I genuinely hope other states refrain from following this path. We are witnessing a significant threat to the nation’s vaccine policy at the national level,” cautioned Northe Saunders, president of American Families for Vaccines, a group advocating for immunization. “Any erosion of vaccine requirements at any level of government will jeopardize children’s health, leading to illness and, tragically, loss of life.”