DeSantis: Florida To Become First State To End All Childhood Vaccine Mandates
Governor and Surgeon General Propose Phasing Out Decades-Old Requirements for Schoolchildren; Opponents Warn of Public Health Risks
In a first for the nation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced plans to end all childhood vaccine mandates in the state.
The move would eliminate long-standing requirements for common immunizations against diseases such as measles and polio that have been necessary for children to attend daycare and public schools.
Florida Seeks to End Vaccine Mandates
At a news conference in Valrico, Florida, Dr. Ladapo described existing vaccine requirements as “immoral” and a form of “slavery,” arguing they infringe on a parent’s right to make health decisions for their children.
He stated the Health Department could rescind some mandates on its own but would work with the state legislature to eliminate all of them. The proposal drew immediate criticism from some officials, including Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who warned it could lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases, calling the plan “a public health disaster.”
“Make America Healthy Again” Commission
Governor DeSantis also announced the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) commission. Modeled after similar federal initiatives, the commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis, will explore topics like informed consent in medical care, parental rights, and challenging what they call “medical orthodoxy.”
This commission’s findings will help shape a broader “medical freedom package” to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session, aimed at permanently codifying recent state decisions regarding public health restrictions.
Other States Coordinate on Public Health
In response to the growing politicization of public health decisions, the Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon, and California announced a new alliance to coordinate on their states’ health and vaccination guidelines.
The partnership aims to align immunization plans with recommendations from national medical organizations.
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