Florida Republicans reject plan to weaken childhood vaccine requirements

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https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/04/gop-led-florida-house-junks-desantis-plan-to-ease-vaccine-mandates/

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.

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Only because it might’ve affected Perez’s own children. Self-centered GOP representatives don’t seem to understand that they’re supposed to do what’s best for their constituents, not them.

I was just saying that same thing.



Whaaaaaaa? Are they finally learning something?

They finally realized it’s less fun to fuck dead kids

That implies that they have fucked dead kids and liked it less.




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.


What? Do they think they can squeeze more money out of the lobby by hardballing?

They probably have family that got measles or something, that’s my guess. It only gets to them when they get personally effected.



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