School Attendance Immunizations

SB 626 updates Florida's school immunization requirements by allowing the Department of Health to add new communicable diseases to the mandatory list through rulemaking, instead of pre-listing them. It directly affects all Florida students entering public or private schools, as it modifies which diseases require vaccination for attendance. The bill keeps existing requirements for diseases like polio, measles, mumps, and chickenpox but gives the Department authority to expand the list based on current health needs. The changes will take effect July 1, 2026, and immunizations must remain free at county health departments. The bill does not add new diseases immediately but establishes a process for future updates.