On Sept. 5, 2025, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he was concerned about Florida’s decision to roll back school vaccine requirements, calling the move “a very tough position” and noting that some vaccines — including polio and the COVID-19 vaccine developed during his first term — are clearly beneficial.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump expressed caution on Sept. 5, 2025, about Florida eliminating school vaccine mandates.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the policy change earlier in the week.
- Ladapo said the health department will repeal mandates under its authority; the state legislature would address remaining requirements.
- Florida school vaccine requirements currently cover polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases.
- Child vaccination rates in the U.S. have been declining; federal guidance no longer lists the COVID-19 shot as routinely recommended for healthy children.
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has drawn attention for past actions and statements questioning some vaccine policies.
Verified Facts
Trump spoke from the Oval Office on Sept. 5, 2025, saying officials must be “very careful” when easing vaccine requirements and singled out the polio vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine as examples of effective immunizations. He warned reduced requirements could increase disease risk for others.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced the decision earlier in the week. Ladapo publicly compared vaccine mandates to slavery as part of his justification and said the Department of Health will roll back mandates it controls; he indicated the state Legislature will handle mandates outside that scope.
School districts in Florida — like those nationwide — have long required immunizations against polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases as a condition for in-person attendance. Public health officials and school administrators monitor those requirements to help prevent outbreaks.
Federal guidance has changed recently: the U.S. government has removed the COVID-19 vaccine from its routine recommended list for healthy children. Separately, childhood vaccination coverage has shown declines in recent years, a trend public-health experts flag as a concern for community immunity.
Context & Impact
Removing state-level or departmental vaccine requirements could lower immunization rates further, increasing the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses in schools and surrounding communities. Public-health specialists say high coverage for diseases like measles and polio is critical to prevent spread.
The move in Florida also has political consequences. Supporters frame it as protecting parental choice and medical freedom; critics argue it endangers children and public health. The practical reach of the policy depends on whether the Legislature enacts complementary measures.
Operationally, changes will require school systems to update exemption and attendance policies, and may prompt legal challenges or calls for federal intervention in cases where state actions conflict with public-health recommendations.
Official Statements
“I think we have to be very careful,” President Trump told reporters, adding that some vaccines are “so amazing” and should not be treated as controversial.
President Donald Trump, Sept. 5, 2025
Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo framed mandates as an affront to individual liberty and said the Department of Health will repeal mandates under its authority.
Joseph Ladapo, Florida Surgeon General
Unconfirmed
- Whether Florida’s full set of school vaccine mandates will be eliminated by the legislature and on what timeline is not yet confirmed.
- Specific operational steps and dates for repeals under the Surgeon General’s authority had not been published at the time of reporting.
- Long-term effects on vaccination coverage in Florida and neighboring states remain uncertain and will depend on implementation and public response.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s caution highlights a national debate over vaccine policy as Florida moves to scale back school requirements. The near-term outcome will hinge on legislative actions, public-health responses, and how school systems update policies. Observers say any rollback could lower vaccination coverage and raise outbreak risks if not paired with robust public-health outreach.