Florida plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including those for schoolchildren, according to Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who compared the requirements to “slavery.”

The Department of Health will begin removing four vaccines from state rules and broaden exemptions to include personal beliefs, while a broader “medical freedom package” is planned for lawmakers.

Health experts warn that ending mandates could increase the risk of disease outbreaks, pointing out that immunization rates among Florida kindergartners have already fallen to a 20-year low, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.

The announcement marks a significant break from public health guidance and has sparked political debate, with Democrats condemning the move and Governor DeSantis highlighting it as part of his conservative legacy.