Topline
Florida State Senator Manny Diaz (a Republican) told FloridaPolitics.com that he is considering revising school vaccination requirements for measles and mumps as lawmakers and educators debate possible Covid-19 mandates.
Florida Senator Manny Diaz Jr. speaks with Sen. Kelli Sterngel during a legislative session.... [+] Thursday April 29, 2021 at the Capitol in Tallahassee.
The Key Facts
Diaz tested positive for Covid-19 in the winter of last year and has stated that he is against mandatory vaccinations. Forbes reached out to Diaz for comment but he has not responded.
The Key Background
The Florida Department of Health has long required the following vaccines to be administered before children may enroll and attend childcare or school in the state: diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), varicella (chickenpox), Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal conjugate, and Hepatitis B. Only parents who have declared that such immunizations are incompatible with their religious beliefs can exempt their children's vaccinations under Florida law. Florida's GOP legislators have been criticised for opposing Covid-19 vaccines, but not before or currently fighting against other state-mandated immunizations. The Republican-led Florida Legislature passed earlier this year a bill banning schools, governments, and businesses from requiring vaccination passports.
Tangent:
Florida is currently involved in a debate about a ban on school-mask mandates. This was in the lead up and beginning of the 2021-22 academic years. Despite an increase in coronavirus deaths and cases this summer, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), has been firm in his opposition to masks, despite a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths this summer. A federal judge in Florida upheld Florida's ban on masks and said that the policy should be maintained while parents bring a lawsuit against the state.
Big Number:
51,892. This is the total number of Floridians Covid-19 has killed in the five years since the outbreak of the pandemic. Coronavirus has been confirmed in more than 3.5 million Floridians.
Additional Reading:
Manny Diaz wants to review existing non-COVID-19 vaccine mandates (FloridaPolitics.com)
A Florida Court Judge Rejects a School Mask Ban Ban To Protect Children with Disabilities (Forbes).
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