Florida's Bold Move: Ending Childhood Vaccine Mandates

Florida is making a big change. It will no longer require kids to get vaccines for common diseases. This includes measles, mumps, chickenpox, polio, and hepatitis. The state's surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, made this announcement. He compared vaccine mandates to "slavery. " Ladapo is known for doubting the benefits of vaccines. He was appointed by Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis. During a press conference, Ladapo said all state vaccine rules would be removed. He believes this move aligns with "God's will. " He argued that people should have the right to choose what goes into their bodies. "Our body is a gift from God, " he said. Ladapo also criticized lockdowns and vaccine rules during the pandemic. He called them a time of "crazy things. " Currently, Florida has strict vaccine rules for school kids. These rules are listed on the state's health department website. Without these vaccines, kids can't enroll in public schools. Vaccines have prevented millions of illnesses and deaths. They've also saved billions of dollars. These are facts from a CDC report. But Ladapo didn't give details on when or how this change will happen. He said his department would work with lawmakers and the governor. "People are going to have to choose a side, " he stated. Ladapo also expressed pride in Florida being the first state to do this. If Florida goes through with this, it would be the first state in recent times to do so. However, no law has been introduced yet. Idaho tried something similar but faced pushback. Advocates argued that school mandates prevent outbreaks. Critics say Florida's move could put children at risk. They argue that vaccines protect not just individuals but also the community. Without mandates, outbreaks could become more common.