Governor and First Lady DeSantis push for stronger patient rights and a ban on mRNA vaccine mandates in Florida’s Legislation

Tampa, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis took a bold stance today in defending patient rights and medical freedom, urging the CDC to stop recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for children and calling on the Florida Legislature to make permanent the state’s prohibitions on mRNA mandates. The DeSantis duo also sought to protect Floridians’ vaccination status in the state’s Patient Bill of Rights.

Governor DeSantis emphasized the need for lasting legal protections that secure the rights of patients. “Guided by common sense and sound science, Florida has led the way in protecting patients’ rights. Now is the time to secure these protections and do even more to defend medical freedom,” he said. “Let’s keep Florida the beacon of freedom in health care, where the rights of all patients are enshrined permanently in law.”

The call to action is centered on ensuring Floridians retain control over their healthcare decisions. Both Governor and First Lady DeSantis believe it is crucial that the protections against COVID mRNA vaccine mandates are not temporary but rather enshrined into state law. The governor continued, “We’ve stood firm against federal overreach, and now we need to ensure that our state law provides permanent safeguards for patients.”

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First Lady Casey DeSantis added her voice to the call, highlighting the importance of extending protections beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. “Today, Governor DeSantis, Surgeon General Ladapo, and I called on the Florida Legislature to make permanent the prohibitions against the COVID mRNA vaccine mandate,” she said. “Florida stood in the breach to protect people during COVID, now it’s time to make sure these protections last.”

The DeSantis administration’s approach has been a point of contention and discussion. Florida was the first state to issue guidance in March 2022 stating that healthy children between the ages of 5 and 17 may not benefit from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision came amid growing concerns about the effectiveness and potential side effects of mRNA vaccines, especially for younger populations. Clinical trials raised alarms that children and adolescents who received the vaccine experienced adverse effects such as lower respiratory tract infections.

The DeSantis administration believes that the push to vaccinate children was done prematurely, without sufficient evidence supporting its benefits. The FDA authorized and the CDC recommended the COVID mRNA vaccine for children in 2021, but many parents and health professionals have since questioned the safety and long-term consequences of these vaccines. DeSantis continues to push for the end of the federal recommendation for child vaccinations.

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Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, Florida’s Surgeon General, expressed his gratitude for the DeSantis administration’s ongoing efforts to protect the rights of Floridians. “I am deeply grateful to Governor Ron and First Lady Casey DeSantis for continuing to put the needs and rights of Floridians first,” Dr. Ladapo said. “These proposals will strengthen the sovereignty of patients, and we look forward to advancing these issues with our federal partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.”

At the core of the Governor’s proposal is the belief that personal medical decisions should remain in the hands of the individual and not be dictated by mandates from the government or employers. To protect this autonomy, the DeSantis administration is calling on the Florida Legislature to ensure that state law prohibits the forced administration of the mRNA vaccine. Currently, Florida law provides temporary protections against vaccine mandates, but these provisions are set to expire on June 1, 2025.

If the legislature does not act, schools and higher education institutions could impose mandates requiring students to receive the COVID mRNA vaccine. Similarly, government entities and businesses may require employees to get vaccinated, or risk losing their jobs.

Along with the ban on mandates, the Governor and First Lady also called for adding vaccination status protections to Florida’s Patient Bill of Rights. Under the proposed changes, Floridians would not be discriminated against for choosing not to receive a vaccine. Specifically, the update would prevent healthcare providers and facilities from denying services or treatment to individuals based on their vaccination status. “Floridians should not be kicked out of their doctor’s office or denied treatment for choosing not to get a vaccine,” Governor DeSantis asserted.

This call for permanent protections comes as part of an ongoing effort by the DeSantis administration to prioritize medical freedom and patient rights, ensuring that the state continues to serve as a beacon of personal liberty in the face of federal health mandates.

With the 2025 legislative session approaching, the DeSantis administration will continue to advocate for these protections and work with lawmakers to make sure that Florida’s stance on medical freedom is solidified for generations to come.