Press Release: Concerns Over Lack of Transparency in Florida’s Health Data Amid Vaccine-Preventable Disease Rise
South Florida – Parents and health professionals are growing increasingly concerned over the removal of crucial surveillance data on vaccine-preventable diseases from the Florida Department of Health’s website. Previously a reliable resource, this data detailed the number of confirmed cases of illnesses like measles, tuberculosis, and monkeypox by county, aiding in public health responses. The last available data was from March, following a confirmed measles case at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Dr. Aileen Marty from Florida International University underscores the importance of current disease data to inform both healthcare providers and families, stating that timely information is vital for early diagnosis and preventive action. Without accessible county-level data, parents must now solely rely on schools to inform them of confirmed cases— an inadequate measure for a disease that also affects adults.
In addition to the measles case reported in 2025, Florida observed an outbreak of nine measles cases in Broward County earlier this year. Alarmingly, the U.S. is nearing 1,000 measles cases in 30 jurisdictions. As vaccination rates drop—only 88.1% of Florida kindergartners are fully vaccinated—public health experts warn that communities are at an increasing risk of transmission.
Jennifer Takagishi, a professor at the University of South Florida, highlights that decreased staff and data access at the Department of Health make tracking outbreaks nearly impossible. The absence of real-time health data could hinder efforts to inform community members about potential risks and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
With the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases in Florida, the need for transparent and timely health information is more critical than ever.
For more updates, please contact Cindy Goodman at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com.
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