Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida is set to become the first state in the nation to eliminate all vaccine mandates—a move that public health experts and community leaders warn could have devastating consequences, especially for Black and Hispanic communities in South Florida.
At a press conference Wednesday, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo compared vaccine mandates to “slavery.” As slavery is defined as a system of dehumanization and forced labor rooted in racial violence, many critics have condemned equating slavery with public health measures designed to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.
Governor DeSantis and Surgeon General Ladapo, backed by the support of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, are looking to get rid of these protections entirely.
Dr. Gallon shared his views with Hy-Lo News as it pertains to Surgeon General Ladapo’s comments equating slavery to vaccine mandates.
“The health and safety of our students and staff have been a priority in public and private schools for decades in Florida and throughout the nation. A proposed elimination of required vaccinations for school-aged children runs counter to proven science, and undermines the confidence and expectations that parents and families have come to rely on when they send their children to school. Science saves lives! There is no scientific evidence that the elimination of vaccinations for school-aged students will make them healthier, safer now or in the future. The current Florida Law requiring school vaccinations ensures health and safety, and saves lives. We pray that this remains their common and priority moving forward. Lastly, I find a comparison of vaccinations to the horrors of slavery incredible. Millions died as a result of slavery. Millions of children lived as a result of being vaccinated,” said Dr. Gallon.
Key elected officials like Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Sen. Shevrin Jones are also sounding the alarm.
“Governor DeSantis must either remove Joseph Ladapo as Surgeon General or have him resign,” said Congresswoman Wilson in a recently released statement. “As a former teacher and principal, I know how vital childhood vaccinations are. Ending vaccine mandates puts the whole community at risk of preventable diseases.”
“This reckless move jeopardizes the health and lives of countless Floridians — from children to seniors — especially those too young to be vaccinated or those with compromised immune systems,” said Sen. Jones. “The DeSantis administration is actively undermining public health, making communities more vulnerable to outbreaks and increasing the burden on healthcare systems.”
Black communities already burdened by systemic barriers to healthcare and disproportionately impacted by crises like the COVID-19 pandemic stand to be hit the hardest by the removal of vaccine requirements. In many of these neighborhoods, schools double as trusted spaces for health access and information. Stripping away vaccine mandates could leave marginalized families to make high-stakes medical decisions without reliable guidance or support.
Ultimately, the Florida Legislature will decide whether public health protections remain intact or whether the state moves in a different direction.
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