PFE, MRK, LLY: Florida Become First U.S. State to End Vaccine Mandates, Including for Schools

Florida has become the first U.S. state to end all vaccine mandates, including for children to attend public schools.

The move was announced by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who is a prominent immunization and vaccine critic. The decision is being called a blow to both public health and U.S. pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer (PFE), Merck & Co. (MRK), and Eli Lilly (LLY).

Florida now becomes the first American state to withdraw from requirements that are credited with increasing vaccination rates and preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases. The rollback in Florida could result in fewer school children getting immunized against deadly diseases such as polio and measles, say healthcare professionals.

A Blow to Big Pharma

Until now, all U.S. states had vaccine requirements to attend public schools. Florida is among the states that already allow parents to object to vaccines on religious grounds. In announcing the cancelation of vaccine mandates, Ladapo likened them to “slavery.” The Florida Surgeon General has long stoked fears about vaccines and claimed that Covid-19 shots can contaminate a person’s DNA.

Despite those claims, and other conspiracies, vaccines are credited with saving the lives of 1.1 million children in the U.S. and saving Americans $540 billion in healthcare costs over the last 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The change in Florida fits with the agenda of federal Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has said that he wants to change vaccine policies in the U.S.

Is LLY Stock a Buy?

The stock of Eli Lilly has a consensus Moderate Buy rating among 22 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 16 Buy and six Hold recommendations issued in the last three months. The average LLY price target of $904.76 implies 24% upside from current levels.

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