Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, announced that the state will work to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including childhood immunization requirements that have been in place for decades for public school attendance.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, announced that the state will work to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including childhood immunization requirements that have been in place for decades for public school attendance.
- Would be the first state in the country to eliminate mandatory vaccines
During a press conference, Dr. Ladapo stated that the state’s Department of Health will seek to end “every single” vaccine mandate, comparing them to “slavery” and immoral intrusions on parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their children.
While no specific timeline was provided, officials explained that the process will be carried out in phases. The Department of Health has the authority to remove some vaccination rules directly, but the complete elimination of all vaccine mandates will require action by the Florida Legislature.
Would be the first state in the country to eliminate mandatory vaccines
This initiative will be part of a broader legislative package on “medical freedom” to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session. Current mandates in Florida for students include vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, chickenpox, and hepatitis B.
Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced the creation of a state commission called “Make America Healthy Again.” This commission will be tasked with informing and guiding future health policies in the state, with a focus on medical freedom, parental rights, and informed consent.
This move makes Florida the first state in the country to propose eliminating all childhood vaccine mandates, a step that aligns with the DeSantis administration’s stance against COVID-19-related mandates in previous years.
