As reported by K-12 Dive, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is urging the continuation of vaccine mandates in K-12 schools to help protect children from preventable illnesses. As per NASN, school vaccine requirements significantly reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in schools and the broader communities.
In fact, NASN and the Florida Association of School Nurses (NASN) recently issued a joint statement condemning a recent announcement by the Florida Surgeon General that the state would seek to eliminate vaccine requirements, including those for school-aged children.
To compound the concern, on September 19, 2025 a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel recommended changing the inoculation guidelines for the first shot of the combined measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox vaccine for children ages 4 and younger to further prevent rare cases of fever-related seizures. In addition, according to the CDC, vaccination participation among kindergarteners in the U.S. decreased for all reported vaccines in the 2024-25 school year, compared to the previous school year.
In the statement by NASN and FASN, the agencies said that “Vaccination is one of the greatest public health achievements in American history. It has eradicated or dramatically reduced the spread of numerous deadly and debilitating diseases. Thanks to vaccines, countless children — and vulnerable populations such as immunocompromised individuals and older adults — have been protected from preventable illnesses.”
The statement also references the recent rise in measles cases across several states earlier this year as a warning of what can happen when vaccination rates decline.
For more from K-12 Dive, click here.