Florida’s War on Vaccine Mandates: A Dangerous Step Backward
Florida is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons. State leaders, led by Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Governor Ron DeSantis, have announced plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates including those that protect schoolchildren from diseases like polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. If enacted, Florida would become the first state in the U.S. to completely dismantle these long-standing public health requirements.
This is not just political theater it’s a move with real and dangerous consequences. For decades, childhood vaccinations have been the backbone of public health in America. They’ve eradicated deadly diseases, drastically reduced infant mortality, and allowed generations of kids to grow up without fearing outbreaks of illnesses that once killed millions. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives in the past 50 years, while the CDC reports that about four million deaths are prevented worldwide every year thanks to childhood immunizations.
Florida’s proposal ignores this history and the mountains of scientific evidence behind it. By scrapping mandates, the state risks reintroducing diseases long thought to be under control. A single outbreak of measles or polio could disrupt schools, overwhelm hospitals, and endanger the lives of the very children this policy pretends to protect. Just look at recent outbreaks in Texas and see what real consequences there are for families.
Educators and health professionals are sounding the alarm. The Florida Education Association, representing over 120,000 teachers and administrators, condemned the move as reckless. They rightly point out that reducing vaccinations will increase chronic absenteeism and make schools less safe both medically and academically. What’s especially troubling is that this isn’t happening in isolation. Across the country, vaccine skepticism has been given political cover. Federal public health programs are being reshaped under the Trump administration, with vaccine advisory experts pushed out and long-trusted science questioned. Some states, like Idaho, have already loosened vaccine rules, though they still require basic immunizations. Florida, however, is barreling toward a radical experiment that could leave children unprotected.
Let’s be clear: this is not about freedom, choice, or faith. It’s about public safety. Vaccines are not only about individual protection they’re about community protection. When enough people are vaccinated, herd immunity shields those who can’t be immunized, such as infants and children with compromised immune systems.
Even during the Corona pandemic, many people in our country who were vaccinated remain in poor health, while those who were not vaccinated are living a healthy life.
It’s easy to notice a few unvaccinated people who seem healthy, but that doesn’t reflect the whole population. Many unvaccinated people did get severely ill or die from COVID-19 they just aren’t around to be counted in these casual comparisons. Vaccines don’t stop every case of illness they reduce severity, hospitalization, and death. That’s why even vaccinated people sometimes got sick, but on average their illness was far milder compared to the unvaccinated. CDC data from 2021 showed unvaccinated adults were 10–14 times more likely to die from COVID than vaccinated adults. Countries with high vaccination rates saw dramatic drops in COVID deaths once vaccines rolled out. Just saying we stuggle with localized bias when we have these discussions.
The vaccines are primarily a money grab scam. The Amish, Mennonites, and German Baptist are in far better health than the general population and they don't do vaccines.
Sorry this is going to be long but I had was going to write about this during Covid...
It’s often claimed that Amish, Mennonites, and German Baptists are healthier than the general population because they live without vaccines, but this is a misleading and incomplete picture. The reality is that these groups’ health outcomes are influenced far more by lifestyle factors than by vaccination status.
These communities generally live physically demanding, agrarian lifestyles. They work outdoors, get more daily exercise, and eat fewer processed foods compared to the average American. Studies show that the Amish, for example, have lower rates of obesity and metabolic disease than the general U.S. population—not because they avoid vaccines, but because their diet and physical activity reduce risk factors for chronic illnesses. However, when it comes to infectious diseases, Amish and Mennonite communities actually suffer higher rates of vaccine-preventable illness than the general public. In 2014, a measles outbreak in Ohio infected 383 people, almost entirely within Amish communities which was the largest outbreak in the U.S. in decades. Amish communities also experience frequent pertussis (whooping cough) outbreaks, sometimes spreading to surrounding populations. Rubella, mumps, and chickenpox have repeatedly surged in these populations when herd immunity barriers collapse.
While data is limited, studies suggest Amish life expectancy is not higher than the general U.S. population, and their infant mortality rates are often higher, partly because of limited access to modern medicine, including vaccines. In fact, children in these communities are more likely to die from preventable infectious diseases compared to vaccinated populations. Not to mention, it's
inaccurate to claim these groups categorically “don’t do vaccines.” While vaccination rates are lower, some Amish and Mennonite families do vaccinate selectively—especially after seeing local disease outbreaks. It’s not an absolute cultural prohibition across the board.
I agree there are additional factors and also I personally feel that the Amish have additional issues from not practicing better hygiene that would be present from having running water and brushing their teeth and practicing better oral care.
That being said a vaccine schedule of over 100 shots is absurd.
No one regrets not getting the Covid shots for instance. But the number of injuries is through the roof.
The families I have seen who didn't have their kids get any vaccines ever look way healthier than their peers.
100! Total number by adulthood, following the CDC schedule typically has received 50 ish doses across a lifetime (counting childhood series, boosters, flu shots, and newer vaccines like COVID and shingles).
Infants & Children (0–6 years)
By age 6, a child typically receives around 25–30 doses (covering 14 different diseases).
Hepatitis B (HepB) – 3 doses
Rotavirus (RV) – 2 or 3 doses (depending on brand)
DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) – 5 doses
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) – 3 or 4 doses
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13 or PCV15) – 4 doses
Polio (IPV) – 4 doses
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) – 2 doses
Varicella (Chickenpox) – 2 doses
Hepatitis A – 2 doses
Annual flu (Influenza) – yearly, starting at 6 months
Preteens & Teens (7–18 years)
Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) – 1 dose at 11–12 years
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) – 2 doses (or 3 if started after age 15)
Meningococcal (MenACWY) – 1 dose at 11–12, booster at 16
Annual flu shot
Some may also get MenB (Meningococcal B) between 16–23 years (optional, based on risk).
Adults (19+ years)
Tdap – if not received as a teen, then Td or Tdap booster every 10 years
MMR – if not fully vaccinated as a child
Varicella – if never had chickenpox or vaccine
HPV – up to age 26 (sometimes to 45 after discussion with doctor)
Annual flu shot
Shingles (Zoster, Shingrix) – 2 doses at age 50+
Pneumococcal – PCV20 or PCV15 + PPSV23, starting at age 65 or earlier for certain health conditions
COVID-19 – currently recommended for all adults, with periodic updated doses
No human or animal needs that many foreign agents working against their biology. These autism rates and other issues all these people have aren't normal. There is no way there isn't a connection.
You'd think Texas would have been a wake up call.
Politicians don't care since it will not impact them and for some reason people just can't make the connection between policy and real world consequences. Look at how many people still don't think importers pay tariffs.
Yeah, I get vaccines in general is a touchy subject along with pharmaceuticals as a whole, but man, it's just crazy.
Maybe what the world could really use is the issuing of more Darwin Awards. A month or so before the pandemic my doctor gave me my tetanus booster yet my choice was to pass of the mRNA experimental medical procedure. Give me my right to choose, thank you very much.
Right to choose is fine so long as the correct information is shared. I also think this goes for abortion rights. The whole my body my choice for me but not thee is insane.
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Did they give a reason? For heavy diseases like polio it should stay mandatory
They got their base to not believe in them now they are following through to keep them happy. RFK and all the other politicians are fully vaccinated. Fun fact politicians get VIP enterance into local hospitals so they don';t care because they get the best care. Even local politicians and rich people get this same treatment. It's written on your medical records...
In general, I think people should get vaccinated. Having said that, you can't just dismiss those other things (freedom, choice, faith) because it is about those things too. I support vaccination. I don't support the government forcing you to inject yourself with anything but not getting an MMR vaccine (for example) unless you have a very good concrete reason seems pretty stupid.
Many states have allowed religious and/or personal exemptions (in addition to medical exemptions) over the years. I don't see removing requirements as having a huge effect. Most parents will continue to vaccinate assuming doctors continue to recommend it.
I hear you but this goes along the my body my choice mentality but they don't think women should have that same right for their body it's just hypocritical. I also don't know why MMRs are so scary for people they are amazing.
It's too radical and seems abrupt. I'm sure the second and probably third order consequences are not fully anticipated too. I think basic vaccines should still be made mandatory, at least. Before carrying out this new experiment.
It's a wild swing and RFK Jr ran said he would not do this to get through his confirmation and look at what the liar is doing now.
It actually looking like a lot of people are even eating up the funds for vaccines
A healthy life is everyone's dream, so vaccinations should not be given
We are regressing in the average age of death that's sad with all of our technology.
This sounds really worrying. Removing vaccine mandates might feel like more freedom, but it could also put many people, especially kids, at serious risk. Diseases like measles and polio were controlled because of vaccines, and going backward could undo years of progress in public health.
Indeep public health is going to get worse I fear