Pediatrician raises concern after Florida leaders announce plans to eliminate childhood vaccine mandates

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) — Florida is moving to become the first state in the country to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates.

State leaders say it’s about protecting parental rights, while local doctors warn it could open the door to preventable disease outbreaks. The announcement came Wednesday from Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who said the state will begin rolling back school and childcare vaccine requirements.

“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.” said Ladapo, “Who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body.”

Pediatricians like Dr. Ritu Chandra with Preferred Medical Group in Phenix City say vaccines remain one of the most effective tools for protecting children and schools. Chandra says widespread vaccination helps shield vulnerable people who can’t receive shots.

She recalled treating a patient early in her career. She says it stuck with her because the child’s illness is completely treatable. “It breaks my heart when I think about that case… a 13-month-old baby who had whooping cough” Chandra said. “I remember distinctly working on him so hard, but we were not able to save their child. One of the saddest cases I’ve ever seen, but we don’t see whooping cough no more because everyone is vaccinated.” 

Florida has not announced a timeline for ending vaccine mandates. Meanwhile, the democratic governors of Washington, Oregon, and California announced the creation of an alliance to safeguard health policies, arguing that the administration is politicizing public health decisions.