Quick Facts and Resources for Florida Residents
Quick Fact: “A request for a religious exemption from immunization requirements must be presented to the facility/school on the Department of Health’s Religious Exemption From Immunization form (DH 681 Form). The DH 681 Form is issued only by county health departments and only for a child who is not immunized because of his/her family’s religious tenets or practices. If a parent requests such an exemption, the county health department staff must use the current DH 681 Form, which has been signed by the parent affirming the written statement on the form that a religious conflict exists. This form must be issued upon request. No other information should be solicited from the parent or guardian.” Rule 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code. Medical exemptions are also allowed.
Other Resources: Many vaccination and exemption information links are date specific. If the links below have expired, click on the state's department of health, or immunization program link provided below, as they are likely to provide links to updated information. The General Information link leads to the overview page provided by the state at the time of this webpage's update and may also be helpful. Please email NVIC with broken link information.
- General Information
- Vaccination Requirements
- Exemption Information and Form DH 680, Florida Certification of Immunization is used for all medical exemptions and requires a physician's statement and signature. Form DH 681, Religious Exemption From Immunization is required for religious exemptions and is issued by the County Health Department (CHD).
- General Information
- Vaccination Requirements
- Exemption Information and Form DH 680, Florida Certification of Immunization is used for all medical exemptions and requires a physician's statement and signature. Form DH 681, Religious Exemption From Immunization is required for religious exemptions and is issued by the County Health Department (CHD).
- General Information
- Vaccination Requirements
- Exemption Information and Form DH 680, Florida Certification of Immunization is used for all medical exemptions and requires a physician's statement and signature. Form DH 681, Religious Exemption From Immunization is required for religious exemptions and is issued by the County Health Department (CHD).
- State Healthcare Worker and Patient Vaccination Laws
- State of Florida Legislature – see applicable statutes and their hyperlinks below. Visit NVIC’s Advocacy Portal for information on legislation introduced impacting vaccine exemption rights.
- State of Florida Department of Health
- State of Florida Immunization Program
- State of Florida Vaccine Tracking System
- State of Florida Vaccine Tracking System Opt-out Information – Florida does not make their opt-out form available on-line. Parents or guardians may elect to decline participation in the Florida immunization registry, Florida SHOTS, by submitting a Florida SHOTS Notification and Opt out Form to the Department of Health (DOH).
- State of Florida Proposed Rule-Making – View your state’s registry to learn about proposed rule-making.
TITLE 48. K-20 EDUCATION CODE
CHAPTER 1002. STUDENT AND PARENTAL
RIGHTS AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICES
PART II. STUDENT AND PARENTAL RIGHTS
Fla. Stat. § 1002.20. K-12 student and parent rights
K-12 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory rights including, but not limited to, the following:
(3) HEALTH ISSUES.
(a) School-entry health examinations. --The parent of any child attending a public or private school shall be exempt from the requirement of a health examination upon written request stating objections on religious grounds in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.22(1) and (2).
(b) Immunizations. --The parent of any child attending a public or private school shall be exempt from the school immunization requirements upon meeting any of the exemptions in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.22(5).
TITLE 48. K-20 EDUCATION CODE
CHAPTER 1003. PUBLIC K-12 EDUCATION
PART II. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Fla. Stat. § 1003.22. School-entry health examinations; immunization against communicable diseases; exemptions; duties of Department of Health
(1)Each district school board and the governing authority of each private school shall require that each child who is entitled to admittance to kindergarten, or is entitled to any other initial entrance into a public or private school in this state, present a certification of a school-entry health examination performed within 1 year before enrollment in school. Each district school board, and the governing authority of each private school, may establish a policy that permits a student up to 30 school days to present a certification of a school-entry health examination. Children and youths who are experiencing homelessness and children who are known to the department, as defined in s. 39.0016, shall be given a temporary exemption for 30 school days. Any district school board that establishes such a policy shall include provisions in its local school health services plan to assist students in obtaining the health examinations. However, a child shall be exempted from the requirement of a health examination upon written request of the parent of the child stating objections to the examination on religious grounds.
(3)The Department of Health may adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this section. The Department of Health, after consultation with the Department of Education, shall adopt rules governing the immunization of children against, the testing for, and the control of preventable communicable diseases. The rules must include procedures for exempting a child from immunization requirements. Immunizations shall be required for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus, and other communicable diseases as determined by rules of the Department of Health. The manner and frequency of administration of the immunization or testing shall conform to recognized standards of medical practice. The Department of Health shall supervise and secure the enforcement of the required immunization. Immunizations required by this section shall be available at no cost from the county health departments.
(4)Each district school board and the governing authority of each private school shall establish and enforce as policy that, prior to admittance to or attendance in a public or private school, grades kindergarten through 12, or any other initial entrance into a Florida public or private school, each child present or have on file with the school a certification of immunization for the prevention of those communicable diseases for which immunization is required by the Department of Health and further shall provide for appropriate screening of its students for scoliosis at the proper age. Such certification shall be made on forms approved and provided by the Department of Health and shall become a part of each student’s permanent record, to be transferred when the student transfers, is promoted, or changes schools. The transfer of such immunization certification by Florida public schools shall be accomplished using the Florida Automated System for Transferring Education Records and shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section.
(5)The provisions of this section shall not apply if:
(a)The parent of the child objects in writing that the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with his or her religious tenets or practices;
(b)A physician licensed under the provisions of chapter 458 or chapter 459 certifies in writing, on a form approved and provided by the Department of Health, that the child should be permanently exempt from the required immunization for medical reasons stated in writing, based upon valid clinical reasoning or evidence, demonstrating the need for the permanent exemption;
(c)A physician licensed under the provisions of chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460 certifies in writing, on a form approved and provided by the Department of Health, that the child has received as many immunizations as are medically indicated at the time and is in the process of completing necessary immunizations;
(d)The Department of Health determines that, according to recognized standards of medical practice, any required immunization is unnecessary or hazardous; or
(e)An authorized school official issues a temporary exemption, for up to 30 school days, to permit a student who transfers into a new county to attend class until his or her records can be obtained. Children and youths who are experiencing homelessness and children who are known to the department, as defined in s. 39.0016, shall be given a temporary exemption for 30 school days. The public school health nurse or authorized private school official is responsible for followup of each such student until proper documentation or immunizations are obtained. An exemption for 30 days may be issued for a student who enters a juvenile justice program to permit the student to attend class until his or her records can be obtained or until the immunizations can be obtained. An authorized juvenile justice official is responsible for followup of each student who enters a juvenile justice program until proper documentation or immunizations are obtained.
(6)
(a)No person licensed by this state as a physician or nurse shall be liable for any injury caused by his or her action or failure to act in the administration of a vaccine or other immunizing agent pursuant to the provisions of this section if the person acts as a reasonably prudent person with similar professional training would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.
(b)No member of a district school board, or any of its employees, or member of a governing board of a private school, or any of its employees, shall be liable for any injury caused by the administration of a vaccine to any student who is required to be so immunized or for a failure to diagnose scoliosis pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(7)The parents of any child admitted to or in attendance at a Florida public or private school, grades prekindergarten through 12, are responsible for assuring that the child is in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(8)Each public school, including public kindergarten, and each private school, including private kindergarten, shall be required to provide to the county health department director or administrator annual reports of compliance with the provisions of this section. Reports shall be completed on forms provided by the Department of Health for each kindergarten, and other grade as specified; and the reports shall include the status of children who were admitted at the beginning of the school year. After consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Health shall establish by administrative rule the dates for submission of these reports, the grades for which the reports shall be required, and the forms to be used.
(9)The presence of any of the communicable diseases for which immunization is required by the Department of Health in a Florida public or private school shall permit the county health department director or administrator or the State Health Officer to declare a communicable disease emergency. The declaration of such emergency shall mandate that all students in attendance in the school who are not in compliance with the provisions of this section be identified by the district school board or by the governing authority of the private school; and the school health and immunization records of such children shall be made available to the county health department director or administrator. Those children identified as not being immunized against the disease for which the emergency has been declared shall be temporarily excluded from school by the district school board, or the governing authority of the private school, until such time as is specified by the county health department director or administrator.
(10)Each district school board and the governing authority of each private school shall:
(a)Refuse admittance to any child otherwise entitled to admittance to kindergarten, or any other initial entrance into a Florida public or private school, who is not in compliance with the provisions of subsection (4).
(b)Temporarily exclude from attendance any student who is not in compliance with the provisions of subsection (4).
(11)The provisions of this section do not apply to those persons admitted to or attending adult education classes unless the adult students are under 21 years of age.
(1) Immunizations required for school attendance shall be available free of charge from county health departments subject to the availability of state funding to cover the costs of vaccine and administration of the vaccine. If state funding is not available to cover the cost of vaccine and administration of vaccine, children who are covered by health insurance are not eligible to receive immunizations from county health departments.
(2) Immunization and Documentation Requirements for School Entry/Attendance:
(a) A student may attend a public or non-public school, grades preschool through 12 or an adult education class if younger than 21, if prior to admittance, attendance or transfer, they present one of the following for inspection for validity by an authorized school official:
- DH Form 680, Florida Certification of Immunization (July 2010), incorporated by reference, available from Department of Health (DOH) county health departments (CHDs) or physicians’ offices, or online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02410, or
- DH Form 681, Religious Exemptions for Immunizations (English/Spanish/Haitian-Creole) (July 2008), incorporated by reference, available at DOH CHDs, must be signed by the local county health department medical director or designee. The form is available online at: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02341.
(b) Specific immunization requirements by grade which must be documented prior to admittance, attendance or any other initial entrance are detailed in the Immunization Guidelines-Florida Schools, Childcare Facilities and Family Daycare Homes DH Form 150-615 (March 2013), incorporated by reference, available online at: www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctr/immune/schoolguide.pdf or http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02342.
- Temporary or permanent medical exemption DH Form 680 must be signed by a practitioner licensed under Chapter 458 or 459, F.S., or their authorized representative. For temporary or permanent medical exemption the signing practitioner must possess medical records documenting the medical basis for each such exemption.
- A DH Form 680 that does not include a temporary or permanent medical exemption must be signed by a practitioner licensed under Chapter 458, 459, 460, or 464, F.S.
- Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System) Electronically Certified DH Form 680 accessed directly by the school is considered certified in writing and signed by the Florida SHOTS private provider.
(3) Documentation Requirements for Schools:
(a) The original or a copy of a valid original of the form(s) required under this rule shall remain in the student’s cumulative health record unless verified in Florida SHOTS.
(b) Antigen doses by dates of immunization shall be transferred as data elements through the Florida Automated System for Transferring Education Records (FASTER).
(c) Compliance Reporting:
- Each public and nonpublic school with a kindergarten and/or seventh grade shall submit an annual compliance report. The report shall be completed on DH Form 684, Immunization Annual Report of Compliance for Kindergarten and Seventh Grade (July 2010), incorporated by reference, available at DOH CHDs. The report shall include the immunization status of all children who were attending kindergarten and seventh grades at the beginning of the school year. The report shall be forwarded to the CHD director/administrator no later than October 1 of each school year where the data will be compiled on DH Form 685, Kindergarten and Seventh Grade Annual Report of Compliance County Summary (July 2010), incorporated by reference, available at DOH CHDs; or electronically generated by the Department of Education.
- After consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Health shall require compliance reports from public and nonpublic schools and preschools for selected grades (K-12 and preschool) in special situations of vaccine preventable disease outbreak control or identified need for monitoring through surveys for immunization compliance levels. Such reports shall include the status of all children who were attending school at the beginning of the school year. Reports shall be forwarded to the CHD director/administrator within a specified period, as determined by the DOH.
(4) Homeless, Transfers and Juvenile Justice – A temporary exemption to requirements of subsection (1), above, not to exceed 30 days may be issued by an authorized school official for any of the following, consistent with the definitions in Section 1003.01, F.S.:
(a) A homeless child.
(b) A transfer student.
(c) A student who enters a juvenile justice education program or school.
(d) Children of military families as defined under Section 1000.36, F.S.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the Department may:
(a) Designate any required immunization as unnecessary or hazardous, according to recognized standards of medical practice.
(b) Upon determination that a shortage of vaccine exists, approve issuance of temporary medical exemption with extended expiration dates by practitioners or authorized school officials until such time as, in the DOH’s opinion, vaccine will be available in sufficient quantity for such deferred vaccinations to be completed.
(6) Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System) Opt Out Provision – Parents or guardians may elect to decline participation in the Florida immunization registry, Florida SHOTS, by submitting a Florida SHOTS Notification and Opt Out Form to the DOH. The form, either a DH Form 1478 (English) (January 2007) or DH Form 1478S (Spanish) (September 2003) or DH Form 1478H (Haitian-Creole) (January 2006), incorporated by reference, is available from the DOH, Bureau of Immunization, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-11, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1719. The immunization records of children whose parents choose to opt-out will not be shared with other entities that are allowed by law to have access to the children’s immunization record via authorized access to Florida SHOTS.
(7) Florida SHOTS Private Provider Participation – Any health care practitioner licensed in Florida under Chapter 458, 459 or 464, F.S., may request authorization to access Florida SHOTS by filling out a DH Form 1479, Authorized Private Provider User Agreement for Access to Florida SHOTS (January 2007), incorporated by reference, available from the DOH Bureau of Immunization, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-11, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1719. The DH Form 1479 will be returned to the Department of Health for processing and authorization to access Florida SHOTS. Notification of access approval and instructions for accessing Florida SHOTS will be provided by the DOH. The authorized user and the applicable licensing authority or agency shall notify the DOH, Bureau of Immunization Florida SHOTS personnel when an authorized user’s license or registration has expired or has been suspended or revoked.
(8) Florida SHOTS School and Licensed or Registered Child Care Facility Participation – Any public or nonpublic school, or licensed or registered child care facility may request authorization to access Florida SHOTS by completing a DH Form 2115, Authorized School and Licensed or Registered Child Care Facility User Agreement for Access to Florida SHOTS (January 2007), incorporated by reference, available from the DOH, Bureau of Immunization, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-11, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1719. The DH Form 2115 will be returned to the DOH for processing and authorization to access Florida SHOTS. Notification of access approval and instructions for accessing Florida SHOTS will be provided by the DOH. The authorized user and the applicable licensing authority or agency shall notify the DOH, Bureau of Immunization Florida SHOTS personnel when an authorized user’s license or registration has expired or has been suspended or revoked.
TITLE 29. PUBLIC HEALTH
CHAPTER 402. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: MISC. PROVISIONS
Fla. Stat. § 402.305 Licensing standards; child care facilities.
(9) ADMISSIONS AND RECORDKEEPING.—
(a) Minimum standards shall include requirements for preadmission and periodic health examinations, requirements for immunizations, and requirements for maintaining emergency information and health records on all children.
(b) During the months of August and September of each year, each child care facility shall provide parents of children enrolled in the facility detailed information regarding the causes, symptoms, and transmission of the influenza virus in an effort to educate those parents regarding the importance of immunizing their children against influenza as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(c) During the months of April and September of each year, at a minimum, each facility shall provide parents of children enrolled in the facility information regarding the potential for a distracted adult to fail to drop off a child at the facility and instead leave the child in the adult’s vehicle upon arrival at the adult’s destination. The child care facility shall also give parents information about resources with suggestions to avoid this occurrence. The department shall develop a flyer or brochure with this information that shall be posted to the department’s website, which child care facilities may choose to reproduce and provide to parents to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph.
(d) Because of the nature and duration of drop-in child care, requirements for preadmission and periodic health examinations and requirements for medically signed records of immunization required for child care facilities shall not apply. A parent of a child in drop-in child care shall, however, be required to attest to the child’s health condition and the type and current status of the child’s immunizations.
(e) Any child shall be exempt from medical or physical examination or medical or surgical treatment upon written request of the parent or guardian of such child who objects to the examination and treatment. However, the laws, rules, and regulations relating to contagious or communicable diseases and sanitary matters shall not be violated because of any exemption from or variation of the health and immunization minimum standards.
TITLE 48. K-20 EDUCATION CODE
CHAPTER 1006. SUPPORT FOR LEARNING
PART II. PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR LEARNING AND STUDENT SERVICES
Fla. Stat. § 1006.69 Vaccination against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B.--
(1) A postsecondary educational institution shall provide detailed information concerning the risks associated with meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B and the availability, effectiveness, and known contraindications of any required or recommended vaccine to every student, or to the student's parent if the student is a minor, who has been accepted for admission.
(2) An individual enrolled in a p ostsecondary educational institution who will be residing in on-campus housing shall provide documentation of vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B unless the individual, if the individual is 18 years of age or older, or the individual's parent, if the individual is a minor, declines the vaccinations by signing a separate waiver for each of these vaccines, provided by the institution, acknowledging receipt and review of the information provided.
(3) This section does not require any postsecondary educational institution to provide or pay for vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B.
Below are state statutes relating to minor consent for this state; however, there may be additional statutes NVIC is unaware of, and readers may need to do additional research and/or obtain additional legal advice. NVIC doesn't provide legal advice and provides the below for informational purposes only. NVIC provides additional resource information in our FAQ on Vaccination in School-Based Health Clinics, should readers have concerns about the vaccination of their child without parental knowledge or consent this school setting.
743.064 Emergency medical care or treatment to minors without parental consent.
(1) The absence of parental consent notwithstanding, a physician licensed under chapter 458 or an osteopathic physician licensed under chapter 459 may render emergency medical care or treatment to any minor who has been injured in an accident or who is suffering from an acute illness, disease, or condition if, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, delay in initiation or provision of emergency medical care or treatment would endanger the health or physical well-being of the minor, and provided such emergency medical care or treatment is administered in a hospital licensed by the state under chapter 395 or in a college health service. Emergency medical care or treatment may also be rendered in the prehospital setting by paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and other emergency medical services personnel, provided such care is rendered consistent with the provisions of chapter 401. These persons shall follow the general guidelines and notification provisions of this section.
(2) This section shall apply only when parental consent cannot be immediately obtained for one of the following reasons:
(a) The minor’s condition has rendered him or her unable to reveal the identity of his or her parents, guardian, or legal custodian, and such information is unknown to any person who accompanied the minor to the hospital.
(b) The parents, guardian, or legal custodian cannot be immediately located by telephone at their place of residence or business.
(3) Notification shall be accomplished as soon as possible after the emergency medical care or treatment is administered. The hospital records shall reflect the reason such consent was not initially obtained and shall contain a statement by the attending physician that immediate emergency medical care or treatment was necessary for the patient’s health or physical well-being. The hospital records shall be open for inspection by the person legally responsible for the minor.
(4) No person as delineated in subsection (1), hospital, or college health service shall incur civil liability by reason of having rendered emergency medical care or treatment pursuant to this section, provided such treatment or care was rendered in accordance with acceptable standards of medical practice.
743.0645 Other persons who may consent to medical care or treatment of a minor.
There shall be maintained in the treatment provider’s records of the minor documentation that a reasonable attempt was made to contact the person who has the power to consent.
743.015 Disabilities of nonage; removal.
(1) A circuit court has jurisdiction to remove the disabilities of nonage of a minor age 16 or older residing in this state upon a petition filed by the minor’s natural or legal guardian or, if there is none, by a guardian ad litem.
(2) The petition shall contain the following information:
(a) The name, address, residence, and date of birth of the minor.
(b) The name, address, and current location of each of the minor’s parents, if known.
(c) The name, date of birth, custody, and location of any children born to the minor.
(d) A statement of the minor’s character, habits, education, income, and mental capacity for business, and an explanation of how the needs of the minor with respect to food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and other necessities will be met.
(e) Whether the minor is a party to or the subject of a pending judicial proceeding in this state or any other jurisdiction, or the subject of a judicial order of any description issued in connection with such pending judicial proceeding.
(f) A statement of the reason why the court should remove the disabilities of nonage.
(3) If the petition is filed by the natural or legal guardian, the court must appoint an attorney ad litem for the minor child, and the minor child shall be brought before the court to determine if the interest of the minor will be fully protected by the removal of disabilities of nonage. The attorney ad litem shall represent the child in all related proceedings.
(4) If the petition is filed by the guardian ad litem or next friend, service of process must be perfected on the natural parents.
(5) If both parents are not jointly petitioning the court for the removal of the disabilities of nonage of the minor, service of process must be made upon the nonpetitioning parent. Constructive service of process may be used, provided the petitioning parent makes an actual, diligent search to discover the location of, and provide notice to, the nonpetitioning parent.
(6) The court shall consider the petition and receive such evidence as it deems necessary to rule on the petition. If the court determines that removal of the disabilities of nonage is in the minor’s best interest, it shall enter an order to that effect. An order removing the disabilities of nonage shall have the effect of giving the minor the status of an adult for purposes of all criminal and civil laws of the state, and shall authorize the minor thereafter to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities of persons who are 18 years of age or older.
(7) The court shall consider the petition and, if satisfied that the removal of the disabilities is in the minor’s best interest, shall remove the disabilities of nonage; and shall authorize the minor to perform all acts that the minor could do if he or she were 18 years of age.
(8) The judgment shall be recorded in the county in which the minor resides, and a certified copy shall be received as evidence of the removal of disabilities of nonage for all matters in all courts.