On Wednesday afternoon, Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladapo announced that he would advocate for ending all vaccine mandates in the state. This would include, among other things, the end of vaccine requirements for children in school. Within minutes of Ladapo’s announcement, members of a private anti-vaccine Facebook group called “The Vaccine Free Child” were rejoicing.
“Amen, stop the application of poison given to our precious children,” one member wrote, with another adding: “F yah! About time. Let the revolution begin.”
“I shouldn’t have to inject my kids with poison because you’ve been brainwashed to live in fear,” another member wrote, adding: “Hopefully more will follow Florida’s lead.”
Soon, group members from other parts of the country expressed their desire to have similar measures in their own states. “I am so jealous! I hope GA is next,” one member wrote, with another adding: “Ugh I wish Mississippi would do this but I don’t see it happening.” Another added: “Hopefully VA follows suit.”
While many members were celebrating, others were seeking medical help. That same day in the group, one member was seeking advice for treating whooping cough in their child. Responses included various vitamin supplements and “onion socks.” (Some people believe, without evidence, that sliced onions held close to the body absorb viruses and toxins.) Elsewhere in the group, members recommended an hourly administration of chlorine dioxide—a toxic bleach solution—to treat a baby’s possible case of meningitis. The groups don’t just boost anti-vaccine content: They also spread unproven and often dangerous medical advice.
The outpouring of joy in “The Vaccine Free Child” group echoed a celebratory mood online among the anti-vaccine community.
“This is how you make America healthy again. Will other states follow Florida’s lead?” Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted to its X account. Moments later, the group hosted a live X Space with Dr. Memhet Oz, who heads up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines. (Oz didn’t discuss the announcement from Florida.)
While the anti-vaccine community celebrated, public health experts slammed Florida’s decision, saying it will possibly endanger the lives of children who will be left unprotected from diseases like measles, mumps, chickenpox, polio and hepatitis—all of which can be prevented by safe, affordable vaccines.
“There is short-term damage as this announcement alone will further undermine trust in vaccines around the world,” says Alex Morozov, an oncologist who has overseen hundreds of drug trials at multiple companies including Pfizer.
For Natalia Solenkova, a Miami-based critical care physician who has been fighting anti-vaccine disinformation for years, Ladapo’s announcement and the ensuing celebrations came as no surprise—and she believes the outcome will be just as predictable.
“Florida has been moving in this direction for several years,” says Solenkova. “We know from history that before vaccines, children died from measles, polio, whooping cough, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Without vaccines, children will die again.”
With vaccination rates across the US already dropping in recent years, the impact of Florida’s proposed vaccine mandate ban could be devastating. “Long-term, we don’t know the impact. There is very little data on what happens when mandates are lifted. That is the danger of doing this so abruptly,” says Morozov. “Maybe vaccination rates will drop by 10 percent? Or maybe by 50 percent? Nobody knows. Higher drops could lead to devastating epidemics.”