Florida health officials proposed on Monday a rule amendment that would remove requirements for hepatitis B, pneumococcal, chickenpox and Hib vaccines from school entry, while expanding religious exemptions to include sincerely held moral or ethical beliefs. The proposal follows Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s effort to curtail vaccine mandates announced nearly a year earlier. Existing state law still requires immunizations for polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps and tetanus. The rule amendment does not alter statutory requirements but changes the health department’s guidance. Under the draft, families could qualify for exemptions based on religious tenets or a sincerely held moral or ethical belief, and county health officials would not seek additional information from parents. The public may submit comments through September 14. Democrats said the plan threatens public health and could increase susceptibility to preventable diseases such as hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis. The proposal references a Trump executive order that listed some of the removed vaccines as recommended for all children, though it placed hepatitis B in categories for high‑risk groups or shared decision making. The existing vaccination requirements remain in effect while the rulemaking process continues.