Florida to eliminate all vaccine mandates, surgeon general says
— Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced that the state will move to eliminate all vaccine mandates, saying the Department of Health will work with the governor to remove requirements he described as wrong and immoral. He said the change will not ban vaccines and that individual choice should guide decisions about immunization. The announcement coincided with Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiling a Florida Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission led by first lady Casey DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
Key takeaways
- On Sept. 3, 2025, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Florida will pursue removal of all vaccine mandates.
- Ladapo said the Department of Health will partner with the governor on the effort.
- Florida currently maintains vaccine requirements for students attending public schools, listed on the Florida Department of Health website.
- State officials emphasized that eliminating mandates is not the same as banning vaccines; individuals may continue to be vaccinated.
- The announcement coincided with creation of the Florida MAHA commission chaired by Casey DeSantis and Jay Collins, with Ladapo and other cabinet members serving.
- Dr. Robert Malone, a controversial vaccine critic, is noted in reporting as recently appointed to a CDC advisory committee by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; he praised Ladapo.
- Public health experts and health-care providers may raise questions about the public health and legal steps required to remove existing mandates.
Verified facts
Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, made the announcement at a public news conference on Sept. 3, 2025. He said the Department of Health will seek to remove all vaccine mandates in the state and will coordinate with the governor’s office on that effort.
Florida currently requires certain vaccinations for students enrolled in public schools; those requirements and exemptions are maintained by the Florida Department of Health. State officials clarified during the announcement that the move to eliminate mandates does not equal a prohibition on vaccines — Floridians would still be free to get vaccinated.
Reporters covering the event noted that Dr. Robert Malone, described in coverage as a vocal critic of some vaccines, recently was named by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to an independent vaccine advisory committee associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malone commented publicly that he supports Ladapo’s approach.
The announcement also coincided with Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiling the Florida Make America Healthy Again commission. The governor said the panel will prioritize reforms to reduce regulatory burdens and promote healthy living. The commission is to be chaired by Casey DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and include Ladapo, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris, and Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch.
Context & impact
Eliminating state vaccine mandates would require formal action. Some mandates are established by state law, while others are implemented through agency rules or institutional policies; undoing them may require administrative rule changes or legislation and could face legal and public-health review.
For schools, removal of state-level mandates would change the baseline for required immunizations for attendance, but private institutions and local districts could set their own policies. Federal requirements tied to funding or specific programs could remain unchanged.
Public-health experts typically view vaccine mandates as tools to maintain high community immunity and protect vulnerable populations. Changes to mandate policy could prompt debate among health officials, educators, employers, and parents about risks, exemptions, and the best ways to encourage uptake without mandates.
Healthcare providers and hospitals often follow a mix of state rules and institutional policies; any state move to end mandates may lead some employers to reassess workplace vaccination policies. The timeline and scope of any policy changes remain to be defined by executive or legislative action.
Official statements
“All of them. All of them,” Ladapo said when asked if the state would try to remove every vaccine mandate, adding his view that forcing mandates is “wrong” and “immoral.”
Joseph Ladapo, Florida Surgeon General
“The Florida MAHA commission will prioritize reforms that empower Floridians, reduce regulatory burdens and hold actors accountable for their conduct,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said when he announced the commission.
Governor Ron DeSantis (statement)
Unconfirmed
- Exact timeline for rescinding specific mandates has not been announced.
- Which statutory or regulatory requirements will be targeted first remains unreported.
- Whether the state will face legal challenges or federal scrutiny as a result of removing mandates is uncertain.
Bottom line
Florida’s surgeon general has announced an intent to pursue the removal of all vaccine mandates and to coordinate that work with the governor’s office. The state says it will not ban vaccines and that individual choice will remain central. Practical changes to law or policy will require administrative steps or legislation, and the announcement is likely to prompt debate among health officials, educators, employers and legal experts about timing, public-health consequences and the mechanism for change.