NEWS & RESOURCES

ANTI-VAXXING: THE NEW NORM

October 1, 2022

There's so much controversy surrounding the topic of vaccines. Many parents aren't sure which direction to go, so they do nothing. Ultimately, the goal is to do what's best for your child. But, how are parents to know exactly "what's best"? Well, there's no one-size fits all answer for this. So, here is a bit of helpful information to aid parents in, at minimum, make an informed decision:

• Can children attend public or private schools without immunizations?

  • All children who attend Florida schools (public or private) are required to be immunized in order to protect themselves and other children from potentially harmful and even fatal, vaccine-preventable diseases in accordance with Chapter 1003.22(4), Florida Statutes (FS), and Chapter 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code (FAC). This means if you choose to forego vaccines for your kiddo, he or she may need to be homeschooled or you may complete the Department of Health’s Religious Exemption From Immunization (DH 681 Form). 

• Will be child be protected by herd immunity?​

  • It's estimated that 94% of the population must be immune to interrupt the chain of transmission. Herd immunity cannot be relied on for every virus. For example, pertussis is quite easily spread and vaccine protection is temporary (approx. 10 years). Additionally, the percentage of vaccinated persons, like those with the Covid-19 vaccine, has not reached or is no longer at 94% of the population.

• Why do people get vaccinated if protection isn't guaranteed?​

  • The goal of vaccines is to create fighter cells, called antibodies, in the body. This way if and when the person is exposed to a virus, the body is ready to rid itself of the offending agent, the antigen.