Florida takes a stand: DeSantis proposes permanent ban on mRNA vaccine mandates

By willowt // 2025-03-06

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a proposal to permanently ban mRNA vaccine mandates in the state, emphasizing the right of Floridians to refuse such vaccines.
The announcement addresses the expiration of current protections against mRNA vaccine mandates in June 2025, urging legislative action to prevent the reinstatement of mandates in schools, workplaces and government entities.
Florida has a history of resisting vaccine mandates, with DeSantis previously signing measures to ban vaccine passports, mask mandates in schools and employer-based vaccine requirements, positioning Florida as a "refuge of sanity."
The proposal includes expanding Florida’s "Patient’s Bill of Rights" to prevent discrimination in medical treatment based on vaccination status, addressing cases where patients were denied life-saving transplants for not receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
DeSantis’ proposal is part of a broader national conversation on medical autonomy, with Florida positioning itself as a leader in the fight against government overreach in public health decisions, amid growing skepticism about the long-term safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines.

In a bold move that underscores Florida’s commitment to individual freedoms and medical autonomy, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a groundbreaking proposal to permanently ban mRNA vaccine mandates across the state. Speaking at a press conference in Tampa on March 5, 2025, DeSantis declared, “You should not be forced to take an mRNA shot against your will. That should be the right of every Floridian.” This announcement comes as existing protections against mRNA vaccine mandates are set to expire in June 2025. DeSantis emphasized the urgency of making these protections permanent, warning that without legislative action, Floridians could once again face the threat of mandates in schools, workplaces and government entities.

Legacy of resistance to mandates

Florida’s stance against vaccine mandates is not new. In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis signed a series of measures aimed at protecting Floridians from what he called “unscientific, unnecessary directives.” These measures included bans on vaccine passports, mask mandates in schools and employer-based vaccine requirements. At the time, DeSantis positioned Florida as a “refuge of sanity” in a world he believed had “lost its mind.” The governor’s latest proposal builds on this legacy, seeking to enshrine protections against mRNA vaccine mandates into state law permanently. “We’ve got to make that permanent,” DeSantis said. “We cannot allow those protections to evaporate.” The proposal also includes expanding Florida’s “Patient’s Bill of Rights” to protect individuals from being denied medical treatment based on their vaccination status. DeSantis highlighted disturbing cases where patients were denied life-saving transplants because they had not received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or booster. “How sick is that?” he asked.

Human cost of mandates

DeSantis’ announcement resonated deeply with Floridians who have faced personal and professional consequences for refusing mRNA vaccines. He recounted stories of firefighters and other frontline workers who risked their lives during the pandemic, only to be threatened with job loss for declining the vaccine. “They were going to lose their job,” DeSantis said. “It was like a big contest. I remember, for some of these, we of course did the law, which was good, but leading up to that, there was a lot of people that were really concerned about what could happen.” The governor’s remarks underscored the broader debate over medical freedom and individual choice. “You work hard, you do all this, and then what? They’re just going to cast you aside just because you had a disagreement on whether this was the right thing to do for you,” he said.

National conversation on medical freedom

DeSantis’ proposal is part of a larger national conversation about the role of government in public health decisions. While some states have embraced vaccine mandates as a tool to combat infectious diseases, Florida has positioned itself as a leader in the fight for medical autonomy. The governor’s announcement also comes amid growing skepticism about the long-term safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines. In December 2024, DeSantis petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to convene a grand jury to investigate whether COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers misled the public about potential side effects. The court granted his request, and the grand jury is expected to deliver its findings in 2025. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a vocal critic of mRNA vaccine mandates, has supported DeSantis’ efforts. “As a health sciences researcher and physician, I have personally witnessed accomplished scientists receive threats due to their unorthodox positions,” Ladapo said. “However, many of these positions have proven to be correct, as we’ve all seen over the past few years.”

What’s next for Florida?

If the legislature approves DeSantis’ proposal, Florida will become the first state to permanently ban mRNA vaccine mandates. The move is likely to spark both praise and criticism, with advocates of medical freedom hailing it as a victory for individual rights, while public health experts warn it could undermine efforts to control future outbreaks. For now, DeSantis remains steadfast in his commitment to protecting Floridians’ freedoms. “When the world lost its mind, Florida was a refuge of sanity,” he said. “These measures will ensure Florida remains this way.” As the debate over vaccine mandates continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Florida is determined to chart its own course, prioritizing individual choice and medical freedom above all else. Whether this approach will serve as a model for other states—or a cautionary tale—remains to be seen. Sources include: X.com FLvoicenews.com TheGuardian.com