DeSantis had called for a special session to take up the proposed changes.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ plans to upend childhood vaccination requirements continues to be thwarted by his fellow Republicans.

Just minutes into a special session on Tuesday, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced that the Republican-led chamber would not take up a proposal from DeSantis to allow children to opt out of certain school vaccination requirements. The move effectively killed the proposal, which had been backed by the Senate.

Perez, a father from Miami with three young children, said he was concerned by the idea of “children being in school without measles and mumps and polio and chickenpox vaccines that have been working for decades,” according to The New York Times, which reported from the State Capitol. “That was something that I was uncomfortable with.”

Specifically, the proposal—the Medical Freedom bill—would have given parents the option to exempt children from required vaccinations based on their “conscience.” The state already allows for medical- and religious-based exemptions.

  • zarkanian@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    8·
    5 days ago

    Once again, a Republican does the right thing because it might affect him directly.

    Also

    Specifically, the proposal—the Medical Freedom bill—would have given parents the option to exempt children from required vaccinations based on their “conscience.” The state already allows for medical- and religious-based exemptions.

    So, this bill wouldn’t really change anything. Currently, if a parent wants to avoid vaccinating their child, they can just claim that it goes against their religious beliefs, whatever those are. Enforcing religious norms would go against the First Amendment, so your religious beliefs are whatever you say that they are. This law is based on the honor system.