Florida Plans to Scrap Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren
Florida is pushing to become the first U.S. state to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those requiring children to be immunized against diseases such as measles, polio, and chickenpox to attend public schools.
At a news conference, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo compared vaccine mandates to “slavery” and pledged to end “all of them, every last one of them.” He argued that families, not the government, should decide what goes into their children’s bodies.
Public health experts, however, strongly condemned the move. Doctors and medical organizations warned that such a policy could expose children and communities to outbreaks of preventable diseases.
The Florida Education Association, representing more than 120,000 educators, said the decision would disrupt student learning and make schools less safe. Lawmakers and medical leaders across the country described the plan as dangerous and irresponsible, stressing that vaccines save millions of lives each year.
In contrast, other states are doubling down on health protections. Leaders in Washington, Oregon, and California have pledged to coordinate policies that follow medical science and safeguard immunization programs, particularly for children.
This debate underscores children’s right to the highest attainable standard of health. Every child is entitled to access preventive health care and protection from diseases that threaten their survival and development.
