6 September 11-17, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Screenshot via YouTube/News4JAX The Local Station IMMUNITY IMPUNITY Ladapo and DeSantis push to eliminate all vaccine mandates in Florida. BY CHRISTINE SEXTON Editor’s note: New Times occasionally shares articles from the Florida Phoenix, part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network. Contact the Florida Phoenix at info@floridaphoenix. com or follow the site on Facebook and X. (And don’t blame them for the headline. We wrote that.) I f Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and his boss, Gov. Ron DeSantis, have their way, schoolchildren, college students, and even nursing home resi- dents would no longer have to be vacci- nated against infectious diseases and viruses. The DeSantis administration rolled out the proposed change on September 3, and if they’re successful, the state would be the first in the nation to completely eliminate vaccine requirements that many health experts credit with nearly eliminating some diseases. “Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is because of your relation- ship with your body and your God,” said Ladapo, attacking the government mandates. “It’s wrong, it’s immoral. They do not have the right to tell you what you put in your body. They don’t have the right to tell you what your kids have to put in [their] body. They do not have the right. Do not give it to them. Take it away from them. And we’re go- ing to be starting that here in Florida.” ‘Choose a Side’ Neither Ladapo nor DeSantis discussed with legislative leadership their intent in the 2026 legislative session to push to eliminate vac- cine mandates from the books before making the announcement. The surgeon general praised the legisla- ture and went as far as to say he “loves our lawmakers.” But Ladapo issued an ultimatum. “They’re going to have to make decisions, right? That’s the way that this becomes possi- ble. So, people are going to have to make a de- cision. People are going to have to, have to choose a side. And I am telling you right now that you know the moral side is, it’s so simple.” Patients would remain free to take shots if they like. Democratic officials quickly blasted the announcement, deeming it a “reckless” deci- sion that could lead to a drop in those immu- nized in the state. Florida has already seen its immunization rate for school-aged children tick down in recent years, although more than three-quarters of schoolchildren have received shots. “This is ridiculous. Florida already has broad medical and religious exemptions for childhood vaccines, so any family that has a sincere opposition to vaccination can opt out. Removing the mandate wholesale is danger- ous, anti-science, and anti-child. Nobody wants to go back to the days of iron lungs,” Senate Democratic leader Sen. Lori Berman, from Boynton Beach, said in a statement. “Republicans have gone from entertaining anti-science conspiracy theories to fully en- dorsing an anti-science health policy. As a member of the Senate Health Policy Commit- tee, I’ll be doing everything in my power to protect our kids from these reckless attempts to harm them.” Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat from Mi- ami Gardens, also criticized the announce- ment. “Ending vaccine mandates poses a grave public health risk and will likely lead to a resur- gence of preventable diseases. This reckless move jeopardizes the health and lives of count- less Floridians — from children to seniors — es- pecially those too young to be vaccinated or those with compromised immune systems. The DeSantis administration is actively under- mining public health, making communities more vulnerable to outbreaks and increasing the burden on healthcare systems.” Public Citizen’s Health Research Group Director Robert Steinbrook said ending all vaccine mandates is a “recipe for disaster” and goes in the wrong direction. He urged the legislature to stand against the DeSantis ad- ministration. “High immunization rates against danger- ous infectious diseases such as measles and polio protect individuals as well as their com- munities. If this plan moves forward, Florida will terminate one of the most effective means of limiting the spread of infectious dis- eases and embolden U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to wreak even more havoc on vaccinations na- tionally. The Florida legislature and state res- idents must vociferously reject these plans,” Steinbrook said in a prepared statement. Florida’s Current Immunization Requirements Florida law contains a number of immuniza- tion requirements for the young and the old. Immunization for poliomyelitis, diphthe- ria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, and tetanus are required for entry and attendance in Florida schools, childcare facilities, and family daycare homes. The state allows ex- emptions for valid medical reasons but also for religious and certain belief systems and, in some cases, allows personal exemptions for philosophical beliefs. Florida law also requires school districts to develop and disseminate parent guides that include information about the impor- tance of student health and available immu- nizations and vaccinations, including, but not limited to, recommended immunization schedules in accordance with federal recom- mendations. The school guide must include detailed in- formation regarding the causes, symptoms, and transmission of meningococcal disease and the availability, effectiveness, known con- traindications, and appropriate age for the administration of any required or recom- mended vaccine against that infection. The Florida Education Association issued a statement warning that changing the rules would endanger students and faculty. “When leaders talk about pulling back vaccines, they’re talking about disrupting stu- dent learning and making schools less safe. State leaders say they care about reducing chronic absenteeism and keeping kids in school — but reducing vaccinations does the opposite, putting our children’s health and education at risk,” the union said. “We’re reviewing the potential impacts on public schools and our communities. But, make no mistake, FEA will continue to stand up for our students, our educators, and our public schools.” College students who reside in on-campus housing must provide documentation of vac- cinations against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B. Again, the law contains ex- emptions and students who refuse the vac- cines are required to sign waivers. Nursing homes are required to assess resi- dents’ eligibility for pneumococcal vaccina- tions or revaccinations within five business days of admission. If indicated, the resident must be vaccinated or revaccinated within 60 days after admission, in accordance with the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention, subject to ex- emptions for medical contraindications and religious or personal beliefs. Immunization may not be provided to a resident who provides documentation that he or she has been immunized. A resident may elect to receive the immunization from his or her personal physician and, if so, the resident needs to provide proof of the immunization to the facility. The agency may adopt and en- force any rules necessary to comply. 2025 Efforts Fall Short The 2026 legislative session begins in Janu- ary, and the DeSantis administration will work with the legislature to accomplish its goal. However, the Department of Health will also revise rules for a handful of vaccines that are mandated by rule but not by statute. A substantially scaled-back effort to ad- dress vaccine mandates fell short during the 2025 session. The DOH this spring championed a broad bill (HB 1299) continuing a law initially passed in 2021 that banned businesses, government entities, and educational institutions from de- nying people entry or service based on vaccina- tion status or requiring people to wear masks. HB 1299 extended the ban permanently. The bill expanded the Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities statutes to pro- hibit providers and facilities from denying admission, care, or services to a patient based solely on vaccination status. Although the House agreed to the lan- guage, passing HB 1299 by a near-unanimous vote, state Sen. Gayle Harrell, a Republican from Stuart whose late husband was a physi- cian, warned that the requirement would open doctors to increased liability. Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Hollywood lawmaker with no party affiliation, said the mandate to treat patients would have contradicted a law DeSantis championed that guarantees Florida physi- cians legal protections to not treat patients on the basis of their conscience. The Senate deleted the language before passing the proposal, and the House ulti- mately agreed to the Senate’s version. Ladapo the Lightning Rod Ladapo is a well-known vaccine skeptic. He emphasized parents’ rights to send their kids | METRO | Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo wants to end all vaccination requirements for children.
