States Move to Weaken School Vaccine Mandates as HHS Updates Childhood Immunization Guidelines Across the United States

Across the United States, a wave of states is moving to loosen or entirely remove vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, a shift that could eventually influence federal policy.

The effort is being driven by a combination of political momentum, long-standing vaccine skepticism, and recent changes to national immunization guidelines.

Vaccine Skepticism on the Rise

Vaccine hesitancy has been simmering for years, and recent data shows a concerning drop in vaccination coverage for diseases like measles, polio, chickenpox, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

Public health experts warn that declining immunity could make outbreaks more frequent and severe, particularly among children who miss critical shots.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), remains a central figure in the vaccine skepticism movement.

Under his leadership, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised the childhood immunization schedule, cutting the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 17 down to 11.

Several vaccines—including those for COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, and meningitis—have been moved to “shared clinical decision-making” categories, or are now recommended primarily for high-risk children rather than universally.

A Coordinated State-Level Campaign

Kennedy’s efforts at the federal level coincide with a well-organized push at the state level.

At least nine states have introduced bills to weaken or eliminate school-entry vaccine mandates.

Idaho and Iowa appear closest to fully removing such requirements, while Florida, New Hampshire, Arizona, and West Virginia are advancing legislation to broaden exemptions or target specific vaccines.

The Medical Freedom Act Coalition, an umbrella organization of at least 15 nonprofit groups, is spearheading these state campaigns.

0Among its members are Children’s Health Defense, which Kennedy co-founded, and groups linked to his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

These organizations argue that vaccine mandates are unnecessary, citing past federal leniency as proof that certain shots are not essential for all children.

Legislative Battles and Political Obstacles

Not all efforts are moving smoothly. Arizona’s anti-mandate bill, for instance, faces an almost certain veto from the Democratic governor.

Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the intention to remove vaccine requirements, but actual legislative approval remains pending.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s HF 2171 has advanced through committee and is awaiting a House vote, and New Hampshire is considering measures that would retain only polio mandates or target hepatitis B specifically.

The Idaho Medical Freedom Act of 2025 laid much of the groundwork, though it created legal conflicts with existing school mandates.

Activists are now using these precedents to encourage lawmakers in other states to follow suit, framing the conversation around personal choice and parental rights.

Real-World Consequences: Outbreaks on the Rise

The potential fallout from declining vaccination rates is already evident.

South Carolina is experiencing a measles outbreak affecting nearly 1,000 people, primarily children. Nineteen patients have been hospitalized with severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, and the majority of those infected had not received the full MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series.

Vaccination rates in the schools hardest hit by the outbreak fell below 80 percent—well under the CDC’s recommended 95 percent threshold for herd immunity.

Public health officials warn that weakening vaccine mandates nationwide could lead to similar outbreaks in other states.

Public Opinion Still Strongly Supports Vaccines

Despite growing legislative challenges, vaccines remain highly popular with parents.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 90 percent of parents believe children should be vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and polio.

Support is bipartisan: 96 percent of Democrat parents and 88 percent of Republican parents back the MMR vaccine, while polio vaccination receives 95 percent support from Democrats and 86 percent from Republicans.

Even within MAGA households, the majority endorse childhood immunizations.

What’s Next?

The coming months could be pivotal.

Iowa and New Hampshire may finalize votes on bills that significantly reshape vaccine requirements.

Florida’s regulatory adjustments could set a precedent for other states, while Idaho’s Medical Freedom Act continues to inspire new legislation nationwide.

Federal involvement remains uncertain.

HHS has not publicly confirmed whether a nationwide rollback of vaccine mandates is planned, but the combination of state-level activity and CDC guideline changes could create a domino effect.

Public health experts warn that lower vaccination coverage could increase the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, with potential consequences for school communities and broader public health.

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Summary

By CASSIDY MORRISON, US SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER

A growing coalition of states is attempting to dismantle school vaccine mandates, encouraged by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s updated CDC guidelines.

Federal and state actions together are reshaping the landscape of childhood immunizations, raising public health concerns amid ongoing outbreaks, though broad parental support for vaccines remains strong.