Florida is on the brink of an unprecedented and dangerous move: eliminating all vaccine mandates, including those that have long protected children in our public schools from deadly diseases like polio, measles, chickenpox, and hepatitis B.

At a recent press conference, State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced plans to repeal “every last one” of these vaccine requirements. He even compared vaccine mandates to slavery. Governor Ron DeSantis, standing alongside him, endorsed this agenda and promised legislation to make it permanent.

This is not just a political stunt—it’s a direct threat to the health and safety of every Floridian.

Doctors, scientists, and educators are sounding the alarm. The American Medical Association called the plan “an unprecedented rollback” that puts children and communities at serious risk. Pediatricians in Florida have warned this could lead to new outbreaks, missed school days, and avoidable deaths. According to the CDC, more than 90% of children who died from influenza last season were unvaccinated. These aren’t abstract numbers. These are children who could have been protected.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Florida state legislator, called the plan “reckless and dangerous” and a “public health disaster in the making.” She’s right. And we need other lawmakers—on both sides of the aisle—to stand up and stop it before it’s too late.

For decades, vaccine mandates have kept our schools, workplaces, and communities safe. Ending them is not about freedom—it’s about endangering lives. Florida has one of the largest populations of seniors in the country. It’s a global travel hub. The risk of disease outbreaks here is real and immediate.

We urge all members of the Florida Legislature to reject this dangerous rollback. Don’t let Florida become ground zero for preventable disease outbreaks. Don’t gamble with the lives of children, seniors, and immunocompromised Floridians.

Block any legislation that would repeal vaccine mandates—and defend the basic public health protections that keep all of us safe.