Brinkley Hill
•8/25/2026
LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Florida Department of Health wants to remove four vaccines from the state's mandated list.
Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo approved the ruling Aug. 20. There is now a 21-day period for public input.
WINK News spoke to local parents about the proposal. Medical freedom and a parent's right to choose is a polarizing topic.
Multiple parents told WINK News they support the ruling, wanting more options. Other parents said this ruling is concerning for their children's safety.
"Parents obviously want to have the ability to control the choice of what they do with their kids," Michael Jean-Baptiste said. "At the end of the day, the safety of everyone is paramount."
"I think it'll allow parents to feel more comfortable questioning what they should do and really getting advice from the doctors rather than just being told like this is kind of what the schedule is and we follow it, and that's just protocol," Jasmine Diaz Rodriguez said.
The Florida Department of Health proposes removing the hepatitis B, chickenpox, Haemophilus influenzae type B and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines from the mandated vaccination list for students attending public schools.
"I am happy that we have a choice," Alyssa King said. "Things we're starting to have more options now, and I think it's better for their health in the long run, especially at such a young age. Their bodies are so tiny."
Parents said they hope the proposed rule leads to more conversations with their pediatrician about what's best for children.
"I think parents are going to know what's right for their kids," Rodriguez said.
Some parents told WINK News they will still choose to vaccinate their children, but like having options. Other parents said those options are concerning for their children.
"You're hearing about these measles outbreaks that are happening locally," Jean-Baptiste said. "That's something that you know we didn't have to really worry about for decades because of these vaccines. So it's a bit reckless that people are okay with not vaccinating their children since they're not seeing an issue now. But I feel like down the line we're going to pay the consequences for that."
Jean-Baptiste said he thinks if parents don't want to vaccinate their kids, they don't have to, but they might not be able to participate in public services like schools.
"I know there's a lot of fear of you know supposed side effects, but again, I believe science and doctors have always been at the helm of giving us the best available medicine and possible information," Jean-Baptiste said. "I think it's a bit reckless for people to just take that information, you know, that they see on the internet and run wild with it."
There is a 21-day period for public input before the ruling's final approval.
