Florida is set to end all vaccine mandates in a shocking move that has sparked public concern.
The move has been dubbed on social media as a ‘win for infectious diseases’.
The state announced its plans at a press conference on Wednesday (September 3) by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.
Ladapo said: “What I'm most excited about is an announcement that we're making now, which is that the Florida Department of Health, in partnership with the governor, is going to be working to end all vaccine mandates in Florida law - all of them, all of them, all of them, every last one of them. Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.”
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This includes any requirements of school children to get routine vaccines that help to protect them from life threatening diseases such as measles, tetanus and polio.
He continued: “Who am I as a government or anyone else, who am I as a man standing here now, to tell you what you should put in your body? Who am I to tell you what your child should put in [their] body? I don’t have that right.”
Ladapo added: “You want to put whatever different vaccines in your body, God bless you. I hope you make an informed decision. You don’t want to put whatever vaccines in your body, God bless you. I hope you make an informed decision. That’s how it should be.”
The news has caused a stir on social media, with one user writing on Reddit: “What an odd decision for a state that has more than the average number of elderly…”
Another said: “Vaccines are one of mankind’s greatest achievements. This makes me sad.”
A third person commented: “Jesus f***ing Christ. When I was younger I thought all adult were working towards the same goal. To advance humanity. Growing up has really taken the piss out of what I think of us as a species.”
And a fourth added: “They are brainwashed by misinformation. On the bright side, without vaccine mandates less of these people will be forced to homeschool their kids. Maybe the kids will be able to learn better and get vaccinated as adults, instead of being stuck in their family’s echo chamber.”
Dr Richard Besser, who is a former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said: “The idea that children would be allowed to go to school unvaccinated is absolutely frightening.”