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Florida’s Dangerous Gamble: Why Ending Vaccine Mandates Puts Everyone at Risk
- centralfloridaindi
- Sep 7
- 4 min read
Why Florida Should Not Eliminate Vaccine Mandates
Ronald Dion DeSantis has repeatedly put politics over public health. From controversial redistricting decisions to feuds with Disney, and now the move to eliminate vaccine mandates, his actions have consistently served his own interests not the health and safety of Floridians.
Removing vaccine mandates isn’t just a political maneuver, it’s a direct threat to public health.
Herd Immunity Matters
Herd immunity is when a large portion of a community becomes immune to an infectious disease, making it difficult for the disease to spread. This kind of protection can be achieved in several ways: through natural infection, vaccination, or passive immunity (like from mother to child).
But vaccination is by far the safest and most effective method. Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactive form of the virus into the body, prompting your immune system to produce antibodies. Think of it like training: just as you build strength through repeated workouts or teach your dog to sit with consistent cues, vaccines “train” your body to recognize and fight off real infections in the future.
While no vaccine offers 100% protection, it significantly reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Recent data from the CDC during the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine rollout demonstrated just how effective vaccines can be, even in a short time frame:
Among children, COVID-19 vaccines reduced hospitalization by 65% within the first two months.
For adults 18 and older, risk of hospitalization dropped by 50%, and risk of critical illness decreased by 70%.
For people with weakened immune systems, the vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by 36%.
Vaccines not only protect you, but they also protect those who cannot be vaccinated such as infants, cancer patients, and people with compromised immune systems. That’s the whole point of herd immunity: when enough of us are protected, we create a shield for those who are most vulnerable.
The Risk of Ending Vaccine Mandates
In a recent NPR interview, Florida-based pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin expressed concern over Florida’s declining vaccination rates. Currently, the state is in the high 80% range, well below the 95% threshold recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent disease outbreaks.
Without mandates, those numbers are expected to fall even lower, paving the way for the return of diseases like measles and polio infections we’ve spent decades trying to eliminate.
Dr. Amin made a powerful comparison: refusing vaccines under the excuse of "personal choice" is like saying, “It’s my choice to drive drunk.” Just as reckless driving endangers others on the road, refusing to vaccinate doesn’t just affect you it puts the whole community at risk.
Misinformation, Lies & Dangerous Rhetoric
As if the policy decisions weren't reckless enough, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has added fuel to the fire with shocking, irresponsible comments. At a press conference on September 3rd, he said:
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.” – Joseph Ladapo
Let’s be clear: comparing vaccine mandate a public health safeguar to slavery, a system built on brutal ownership of human beings, is not only wrong, it’s offensive and dangerous.
Vaccines are part of basic public safety, like requiring driver’s licenses, seatbelts, or regulations on food and water. As law professor Dorit Reiss put it: “The opposite of slavery is not ‘you can do whatever you want in a state regardless of the risk you impose on others.’”
This kind of rhetoric from public officials spreads misinformation, emboldens anti-vaccine myths, and undermines the public’s trust in proven science.
Source: Fact check via Politifact
Source: Debunked Anti-Vaccine Myths
Now That We're Up to Speed… Here's How We Fight Back:
Feeling outraged? Good. But more importantly let's take action.
🦆 Send a Quak-o-Gram
Help remove the quack in charg RFK Jr., who’s spread countless falsehoods about vaccines. You can send a rubber duck delivered by someone in a duck costume straight to your representatives to say “No more quacks!” Get a Quak-o-Gram
📞 Call Your Representatives
No matter where they stand, call them. Let them know where you stand. The site 5calls.org provides scripts and context to make your calls quick and impactful.
🗑️ Join the Trash Party
Show your frustration the creative way by sending literal trash to Ladapo, DeSantis, and RFK Jr. It’s symbolic, cathartic, and sends a clear message: We’re done with this garbage.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about vaccines. It’s about truth, public safety, and standing up to dangerous misinformation. We owe it to our children, our neighbors, and ourselves to push back against leaders who treat science like an inconvenience.
Now is not the time for silence. It’s time for action.
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