Florida Against Mandatory Vaccination: A Threat to Measles Control, Studies Warn

• Florida against mandatory vaccination
• Risk of measles outbreaks
• Experts warn of severe consequences

The debate over mandatory vaccines in Florida has raised alarms among the scientific community.

According to recent studies, the state government’s proposal to eliminate mandatory vaccination could accelerate the resurgence of measles in the United States—a disease declared eradicated in the country in 2000, but one that has reappeared with outbreaks in recent years.

Reports warn that thousands of people could die if immunization rates continue to decline.

This comes as Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, publicly compared mandatory vaccination to slavery, sparking controversy in a national climate of vaccine distrust.

Florida Faces Criticism for Being Against Mandatory Vaccination

What the experts are saying

“Even if vaccine coverage remains the same, measles is at risk of resurging,” said Nathan Lo, assistant professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.

“The small decreases that could be expected from eliminating the mandate would make that happen much faster,” he told EFE.

Lo, co-author of a study published in April, explained that the disease could once again become endemic in parts of the United States:

“At the current pace, the risk of measles resurgence would occur within 15 to 25 years. But a 10% drop in vaccination would accelerate that process to just 10 years.”

According to his estimates, Florida could see up to 850,000 cases during that period.

Professor Ira Longini of the University of Florida agreed on the severity of the scenario:

“Especially with measles, the most infectious childhood disease, we are already in a dangerous situation in Florida. We are below the truly protective coverage level. If mandatory vaccines are lifted, coverage will fall further. As a result, the likelihood of measles outbreaks will increase, and their magnitude will be greater.”

The Numbers Behind the Risk of a Measles Outbreak in Florida

The United States requires a minimum coverage of 95% to keep diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella under control.

Currently, the country sits at 92.5%, while Florida reaches only 88.5%.

In a scenario where national coverage drops by 10%, an estimated 11.1 million cases would occur over 25 years.

If the decline reached 50%, infections could surpass 51 million, with nearly 160,000 deaths.

Additional analysis showed that with current daycare vaccination rates in Florida, the probability of a child transmitting the disease is 85.5%. If coverage drops to 85%, that risk would rise to 92.8%.

National Impact

The concern is not limited to Florida. As one of the states with the highest tourist flow, the risk of importing and spreading the disease to other regions increases significantly.

“The challenge with infectious diseases is that one person’s decision affects everyone else,” Lo emphasized.

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The Political Context

The announcement comes as figures from President Donald Trump’s administration, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., question the effectiveness of vaccines.

These positions have deepened the public debate over immunization and the role of the state in enforcing it.

Studies show that declining vaccination rates could reopen the door to diseases once thought to be under control in the United States.

Florida’s case reflects how local political decisions can have nationwide health consequences—especially against a virus as contagious as measles.

What do you think about eliminating mandatory vaccination in Florida?

SOURCE: EFE