Florida Moves to Eliminate All Vaccine Mandates, Including for Schoolchildren

September 3, 2025 - Tampa, FL - Florida is poised to become the first U.S. state to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those required for schoolchildren, in a controversial move announced by State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Wednesday. Backed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the decision marks a significant departure from decades of public health policy credited with curbing infectious diseases like measles, polio, and hepatitis B. The announcement, made at a press conference in Valrico, has sparked fierce debate, with public health experts warning of potential outbreaks and critics decrying the move as reckless.

Dr. Ladapo, a vocal vaccine skeptic, framed the mandates as “immoral” and likened them to “slavery,” arguing they infringe on personal freedom and parental rights. “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? Your body is a gift from God,” Ladapo said to applause. “Every last one of these mandates is wrong and drips with disdain.” He outlined plans for the Florida Department of Health to immediately rescind non-statutory mandates under its authority, while working with the Republican-dominated state legislature to repeal others, such as those for schoolchildren, which require legislative approval.

Florida currently requires students from kindergarten to 12th grade to be vaccinated against diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, chickenpox, and hepatitis B, with exemptions allowed for medical or religious reasons. These mandates, in place across all 50 states since the 1980s, have been instrumental in reducing vaccine-preventable illnesses. A 2024 World Health Organization study estimated that vaccines have saved 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years, with 101 million of those being infants. In the U.S., childhood vaccinations are credited with preventing 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths among children born between 1994 and 2003, according to a CDC study.

Governor DeSantis, who has long opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other health restrictions, announced the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” commission, modeled after federal initiatives led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic. The commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and First Lady Casey DeSantis, will focus on promoting “informed consent,” parental rights, and eliminating “medical orthodoxy not supported by data.” DeSantis emphasized that the commission’s work will inform a “medical freedom package” to be introduced in the 2026 legislative session to permanently end vaccine mandates and codify relaxed COVID-19 policies.

Public health experts have condemned the move as dangerous. Dr. Rana Alissa, president of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned, “When everyone in a school is vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread. When children are sick and miss school, caregivers miss work, impacting families and the local economy.” Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease expert at Florida International University, called the decision “havoc,” predicting challenges in funding free vaccines for low-income families and potential insurance coverage issues. Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota labeled it “reckless,” noting that Florida’s status as a major travel hub could amplify disease spread to other states.

The announcement follows a broader national shift in vaccine policy under the Trump administration, with Kennedy’s recent actions including ousting CDC vaccine advisory board members and canceling mRNA vaccine research. In response, Democratic governors of California, Oregon, and Washington announced a West Coast Health Alliance to maintain evidence-based vaccine guidelines, citing a “vacuum of clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance” at the federal level.

On X, reactions are polarized. Some users praised Florida’s move as a victory for personal freedom, with one post stating, “Finally, a state standing up for choice!” Others expressed alarm, with a user warning, “This is a public health disaster waiting to happen.” Democratic state lawmaker Anna Eskamani called the plan “reckless and dangerous,” predicting a “public health disaster for the Sunshine State.”

Ladapo clarified that the state is not banning vaccines, emphasizing individual choice: “You want to put vaccines in your body, God bless you. You don’t, God bless you. Make an informed decision.” However, experts warn that eliminating mandates could depress vaccination rates, risking outbreaks of diseases like measles, which saw a significant U.S. outbreak in 2024 due to declining rates. Dr. Debra Houry, who resigned as CDC chief medical officer in protest of federal vaccine policy changes, noted that 90% of the 270 children who died from influenza in the U.S. last flu season were unvaccinated.

The process to end mandates remains unclear. While the Department of Health can rescind some requirements, others, embedded in state statutes, require legislative action when the Florida Legislature convenes in January 2026. Republican legislative leaders have not yet commented, but the move aligns with Florida’s history of challenging federal health policies, including its resistance to COVID-19 vaccine passports and worker mandates.

As Florida forges ahead, public health advocates urge reconsideration, warning of dire consequences for children, immunocompromised individuals, and the broader community. “This isn’t just about one parent’s choice,” said Dr. Lisa Gwynn, a Miami pediatrician. “It’s about protecting the vulnerable—our elderly, our neighbors, our society.” With the school year underway, the impact of this policy shift may soon become evident, potentially reshaping public health in Florida and beyond.