Florida Plans Repeal of All School Vaccine Requirements in 2024

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, supported by Governor Ron DeSantis, announced plans to repeal all vaccine mandates in the state, including those for schoolchildren, framing the mandates as infringements on personal choice and labeling them as "wrong" and "immoral." This move marks Florida as the first state to eliminate all vaccination requirements, including those protecting against serious diseases such as measles, polio, and whooping cough, sparking concern among public health experts about increased risks of infectious disease outbreaks. Ladapo has expressed skepticism about vaccines, including dismissing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as "poison," and opposes mandates that protect vulnerable populations, arguing there is "no ethical basis" for such requirements. The announcement has drawn criticism for encouraging the spread of preventable diseases, especially amid a national rise in vaccination exemptions and increasing measles cases. In response, other states like California, Oregon, and Washington have formed a health alliance to uphold vaccination recommendations based on national medical expertise. This development reflects a growing divide in U.S. vaccination policy, with Florida’s repeal effort representing a significant challenge to long-standing public health practices.