Florida moves to kill vaccine mandates; state surgeon general slams them as ‘slavery’

Florida is moving to end all vaccine mandates in the state.

“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” said Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida's surgeon general, at a Sept. 3 press conference in Valrico, Hillsborough County.

“Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God,” Ladapo said.

Vaccine requirements are in state law. Ladapo, the state's top public health official, said lawmakers will “have to choose a side.” To those who don’t want to get vaccinated, he said, “God bless you.”

The press conference was a chance for Ladapo, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and other state leaders, including Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas and state lawmakers to appeal to the growing anti-vaccination movement.