Florida officials announced plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates in the state. Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday at a private Christian school in Hillsborough County.

DeSantis emphasized the importance of "medical freedom" in this decision. He stated, "Medical freedom is something that we've gotta be very conscientious about protecting, especially given how we've seen so many elites lose their way." Ladapo echoed this sentiment, declaring that all vaccine mandates are "wrong and drips with disdain and slavery." He questioned his authority to dictate what individuals should inject into their bodies, saying, "Who am I as a man standing here to tell you what you should put in your body?"

Currently, Florida law mandates several vaccinations for children attending school, including those for measles, polio, chickenpox, and hepatitis B. However, compliance has decreased significantly in recent years, with many parents opting for religious exemptions. This decline has raised concerns among public health officials, who argue that vaccines have been crucial in eradicating dangerous childhood diseases and saving lives.

DeSantis criticized pediatricians who require all mandated vaccines for children to be accepted into their practices. He stated, "I think that you should not ever be discriminated against, regardless of these choices, and so I think it’s wrong for pediatricians to refuse to see a patient if the child’s parents don’t want them taking the hepatitis vaccine."

Ladapo indicated that the Florida Department of Health would first eliminate state rules requiring certain vaccines and then collaborate with DeSantis and the state legislature to remove all mandates. This announcement comes as Florida experiences a 20-year low in kindergarten vaccinations for the 2024-25 school year, with just under 89% of kindergarteners fully immunized, compared to the national average of 93%.

Ladapo has previously expressed skepticism about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and did not recommend the measles vaccine during a recent outbreak in Weston. He stated that vaccination should be a personal choice, urging families to make informed decisions. "I hope you make an informed decision. And that’s how it should be... not this nonsense where people who don’t know you are telling you what to put in your temple, the temple of your body. It’s a gift from God," he said.

This story is developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.