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Parental vaccination intentions following Florida's announced elimination of school vaccine mandates: The role of vaccine hesitancy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: In 2025, Florida officials announced plans to end vaccine mandates, including school-based vaccine requirements. This study assessed whether Florida parents/caregivers reported changes in pediatric vaccination intentions related to the state's announcement and identified correlates of reported changes. METHODS: We conducted an online survey with 519 Florida parents/caregivers of school-aged children in December 2025. Eligibility criteria included being aged 18 or older, having at least one school-aged child, residing in Florida, and speaking English. Measures included sociodemographic characteristics, political affiliation, vaccine hesitancy, and self-reported changes in vaccination intention following the policy announcement. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression models examined correlates of vaccine hesitancy and vaccination intention change. RESULTS: Overall, 42% of participants reported being more likely to vaccinate children following the announcement, 38% reported no change, and 20% reported being less likely. Vaccine hesitancy was the only variable independently associated with reported intention change. Hesitant respondents were more likely than non-hesitant respondents to report decreased vaccination intentions (44% vs 13%) and less likely to report increased intentions (16% vs 50%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest vaccine hesitancy shapes responses to vaccine policy change. Such policies may reinforce existing vaccination attitudes, resulting in divergent vaccination intentions among caregivers with differing levels of hesitancy.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103588