New Commission To Prioritize Health Freedom
TAMPA, FL – Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced today that the Florida Department of Health is initiating steps to eliminate all vaccine mandates across the state. The announcement was made during a press conference alongside Governor Ron DeSantis, who also unveiled the creation of Florida’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. This commission will focus on prioritizing health, restoring trust in the medical profession, and protecting medical freedom by removing mandatory immunization requirements.
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“The Florida Department of Health, in partnership with the governor, is going to be working to end all vaccine mandates in Florida law,” Dr. Ladapo declared. “All of them.”
Dr. Ladapo outlined that the process will begin by repealing rules established by his predecessors that mandated vaccines. The department will then collaborate with Governor DeSantis and state lawmakers to eliminate remaining mandates. “Every last one is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo stated. “Who am I, or anyone else, to tell you what you should put in your body? Your body is a gift from God.”
Emphasizing individual autonomy, Dr. Ladapo argued that government officials lack the authority to enforce vaccine mandates. He highlighted the need for the state legislature to restore decision-making power to individuals. The DeSantis administration has previously criticized COVID-19 vaccines as unsafe and ineffective, consistently recommending against their use for all age groups. A November 2024 Florida grand jury report further alleged that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers engaged in deceptive practices to conceal serious side effects and deaths.
Governor DeSantis introduced the MAHA Commission as a state-level effort to align with President Donald Trump’s national Make America Healthy Again initiative, led by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The national initiative seeks to reform America’s food, health, and scientific systems to address the root causes of chronic diseases.
“Florida’s MAHA Commission will focus on individual medical freedom, informed consent, parental rights, and market innovation,” DeSantis said. The commission aims to promote clean, nutritious food, enhance transparency in healthcare, address the causes of chronic diseases, and rebuild public trust in the medical and public health sectors.
The commission, chaired by First Lady Casey DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, will include Dr. Ladapo, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris, Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, and other medical experts. According to DeSantis, the commission will work to “empower Floridians, reduce regulatory burdens, hold actors accountable, and foster incentives for healthy living and innovation.”
