Florida officials announced plans to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates in the state, expanding on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to reduce health requirements following the COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by the Associated Press, DeSantis also unveiled the creation of a “Make America Healthy Again” commission, modeled after similar initiatives at the federal level. The commission will review policies related to parental rights, informed consent in medical decisions, and nutrition.
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At a news conference in Valrico, state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo described vaccine requirements in schools and other settings as an “immoral” intrusion on parental authority. “They don’t have the right to tell you what to put in your body,” he said. “Take it away from them.” Ladapo added that Florida would seek to end “all of them. Every last one of them” when referring to vaccine mandates.
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The Florida Department of Health can repeal some rules independently, but others would require action by the state legislature. Current state mandates cover immunizations for measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, polio, and DTaP. If eliminated, Florida would be the first state to scrap such a wide range of requirements.
Not all lawmakers support the move. Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani called the plan “reckless and dangerous” in a social media post. “This is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State,” she said.
Meanwhile, Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon, and California announced a joint alliance to coordinate immunization policies. In a joint statement, Gov. Bob Ferguson of Washington, Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon, and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said they would align health guidelines with national medical organizations. They argued that President Donald Trump’s administration is politicizing public health decisions.
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DeSantis said the new state commission will help inform a broad “medical freedom package” to be introduced during the next legislative session. “There will be a broad package,” the governor said. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who will chair the commission alongside First Lady Casey DeSantis, added, “We’re getting government out of the way, getting government out of your lives.”
Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.
