Florida is taking steps to roll back long-standing vaccine requirements, with the Florida Department of Health this week publishing a notice of a rule change.

Florida

Florida is moving forward with plans to roll back vaccine requirements for school children, as the state's Department of Health published notice of a proposed rule change. The update could allow families to opt out of immunization mandates and modify the state's vaccine registry consent procedures. 

The initiative is backed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr Joe Latipo, who argue it supports medical freedom. However, medical professionals, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, have expressed concern that the rollback could lead to the resurgence of diseases such as measles and polio. Some lawmakers and former President Donald Trump have urged caution, emphasizing the importance of relying on scientific data before making final decisions.

Florida moves forward with vaccine requirement rollback

well, florida is now moving forward with plans to roll back vaccine requirements this week. The state published notice of a rule change that could eliminate long standing immunization mandates for school Children. Capital reporter for Saunders tonight has been following this conversation from the very beginning and joins us here with more florida's Department of Health quietly published this notice this week. The start of an administrative rule change. The update would affect school immunization forms and guidelines and presumably allow families the chance to opt out of them as well as the florida shots online vaccine registry informed consent, making sure we're protecting parents rights and then also just being willing to challenge medical orthodoxy that's not supported by the data. The changes come after Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr Joe Latipo announced their push to strike all vaccine mandates from state law. They argue it's about medical freedom, pointing to their long opposition to COVID era restrictions. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and and slavery. Okay, who am I as a government or anyone else or who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body. But critics warned the rollback risks bringing back diseases once thought eradicated measles, whooping cough, polio among them by allowing parents who have been influenced wrongly by social media to decide not to immunize their Children with vaccine rates going down. Every single one of these diseases is a human disease. They will come back. Dr Paul Robinson is an associate professor at F. S. U. College of Medicine and past president of florida's chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was stunned by the state's planned rollback and is joining a chorus of other physicians, including the American Medical Association pushing back. So it's just to me, it's total insanity what they're doing and I don't understand it at all. Even some republicans are cautious about next steps. That says the governor promises a broad legislative package to truly eliminate all of the state's shot mandates. State Rep Peggy Gossett sideman says lawmakers will study the issue before making any decisions. So once again, it's taking a look at the science of it. Do we need to have these mandates? I don't know. Are we putting our kids at risk unnecessarily? Maybe there's only one vaccine that's unneeded. I don't know until we get the data. And President Donald Trump has also urged caution, seeming reluctant when asked about the idea recently. Look, you have vaccines that work. They're just pure and simple work. They're not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used for now. Florida Health hasn't released specifics in the rule change, but with DeSantis pushing lawmakers will at least consider his plan next session at the Capitol. Forest Saunders, Tampa Bay 28

Police are searching for a motive in Wednesday's killing of conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk. Authorities say interviews with family and friends of the 22-year-old suspect suggest he could have been radicalized in the dark corners of the internet.

Orem

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect 'not cooperating' with authorities

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ahead of the trip that he will be seeking answers from Israeli officials about how they see the way forward in Gaza. Rubio's trip comes after Israel's attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar that upended efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Israel for talks

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San Juan

U.S. sends jets to Puerto Rico amid escalating tensions with Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes the Russia-Ukraine war would end if all NATO countries stopped buying oil from Russia and placed tariffs on China of 50 percent to 100 percent for its purchases of Russian petroleum.

Washington

Trump calls on NATO members to stop purchasing Russian oil

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday, as Israel intensified its attacks against northern Gaza. The trip is taking place after President Donald Trump rebuked Israel over the unprecedented attack against Hamas leaders meeting in Doha.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Marco Rubio visits Israel to push for Gaza ceasefire talks

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Warsaw

Ukraine Invasion

NATO bolsters its eastern flank after Russian drones hit Poland

Protests broke out in Chicago on Saturday against President Trump's immigration crackdown. A group of Catholic clergy led what they called a "People's Mass" outside the Great Lakes Naval Base. The base will also be used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a staging area for deportations.

Chicago

Tensions over immigration escalate in Chicago

More than 100,000 people took to the streets in London on Saturday, in what's believed to be the largest anti-immigration protest in British history. Organizers called it a "Unite the Kingdom" rally.

London

Huge crowds march for right-wing "Unite the Kingdom" rally in London

President Trump signaled a new position on Russia's war with Ukraine. He said the U.S. will agree to additional sanctions on Moscow, but only when NATO allies stop buying Russian oil. Willie James Inman has more details.

Global Tariffs

Trump says NATO must stop buying Russian oil

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is being held in Spanish Fork, Utah. Officials have yet to identify a precise motive for Wednesday's shooting. Carter Evans has new developments.

Suspect's family says he recently became more political

NATO has launched operation Eastern Sentry to bolster its presence along the eastern flank of Europe, after Russian drones were found in Poland on Wednesday. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is calling on all treaty members to increase economic pressures on Russia.

Trump calls on NATO members to impose sanctions on Russia

More than 100,000 people marched through central London on Saturday in a 'Unite the Kingdom' demonstration against immigration organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Police said a number of officers were assaulted.

Thousands in London march against immigration

A former chief justice has been sworn in as Nepal's interim prime minister. For many people, Sushila Karki's appointment promises change. Days of violence and anti-government protests left at least 51 people dead.

Kathmandu

Curfew lifted in Kathmandu, violence in Nepal eases

A civil war within the Sinaloa cartel in western Mexico has forced thousands of people to abandon their villages. Rival factions are battling for territory and control. Communities caught in the middle of the violence are demanding change.

Culiacán

Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel war displaces thousands

The man accused of killing conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk is being held without bail in a Utah jail. Meanwhile, vigils and memorials across the country honored Kirk as his widow made her first public remarks since his death.

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect held without bail

President Trump has backed down on his plans to send the National Guard to Chicago, for now. Instead, he told Fox News that federal troops will be deployed to a different city.

Trump backs down on sending National Guard to Chicago

A suspect is in custody after the deadly shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is being held at Utah County Jail, pending formal state charges, which are expected to be filed on Tuesday. CBS News' Andres Gutierrez and Anna Schecter have more.

What we know about the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect's arrest

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.

New York

UN endorses two-state solution declaration that condemns Hamas

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Tunis

Gaza aid flotilla prepares to set sail after reported drone attacks

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced firebrand ex-president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for coup plotting at the end of a landmark trial that divided the nation and drew U.S. fury.

Brasilia

Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement to push ahead with a controversial settlement expansion plan that would cut across land that the Palestinians seek for a state. "There will never be a Palestinian state. This place is ours," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu signs West Bank settlement expansion plan

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Doha

UNSC members condemn Israel over deadly strike on Qatar

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Trump in South Florida last year, is representing himself in court. As the trial opened, Routh forfeited his chance to deliver an opening statement, setting the stage for proceedings.

Fort Pierce

Trump assassination attempt suspect defends himself in trial

Photos of a "person of interest" in the assassination of Charlie Kirk were released by the Salt Lake City FBI. Authorities are searching for the person who shot and killed the conservative activist at an event at Utah Valley University.

Photos released of "person of interest" in Charlie Kirk assassination

Authorities shared new details about the suspect's movements leading up to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The search for the suspect continued on Thursday.

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President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will award conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a campus event in Utah, the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Trump says he'll award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Authorities say the weapon used in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been recovered and law enforcement tracked the movements of the suspect.

Officials: Weapon in Charlie Kirk shooting recovered; suspect tracked

Trump vowed retribution in an Oval Office address after his close ally and conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on a campus in Utah. A massive search for the killer intensified following Kirk's death, with police going door-to-door looking for the shooter.

Trump pledges to find killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

The UAE’s President Mohammed bin Zayed visited Doha a day after Israel’s strike, signalling Gulf solidarity. Qatar’s prime minister called the strike “state terror,” accusing Israel of killing hopes for a hostage deal and demanding Netanyahu face justice.

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