Florida school vaccine exemptions
Florida allows medical and religious exemptions. The religious exemption is a county health department form the parent signs, with no doctor involved. A proposed state rule would drop four vaccines from the school-entry list; it was still pending in October 2026, so confirm the current required list.
Religious exemption. A parent or guardian obtains the Religious Exemption from Immunization form (DH 681) from the county health department, signs it, and submits it to the school. The health department issues it on request; no explanation or provider signature is required.
Medical exemption. A licensed physician documents a temporary or permanent medical exemption on the Florida Certification of Immunization (DH 680).
Changing requirements. In August 2026 the Florida Department of Health proposed a rule to remove hepatitis B, chickenpox (varicella), Hib, and pneumococcal vaccines from the school-entry requirements. Those four are set by agency rule, so the department can drop them without the Legislature; public comment ran through October 19, 2026, and as of late October no effective date had been set. The other required vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) are in state law, and no bill to change them passed in 2026. The department also dropped a plan to add a “moral or ethical belief” exemption, so the religious exemption remains the only nonmedical option. Check the state page or your school district for what is currently required.
What to ask a practice. Whether they will complete the DH 680 certification for a child on a partial schedule, and whether they will document a medical exemption when one applies. The religious form does not involve the practice.
Last reviewed 2026-10-26. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Official Florida immunization page ↗