Ending Vaccine Requirements Puts Floridians and Others at Risk

Statement attributable to:  
Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP  
President, American College of Physicians

Ankush K. Bansal, MD, FACP 
Governor, American College of Physicians, Florida

Elisa M. Sottile, MD, FACP 
Governor, American College of Physicians, Florida 

WASHINGTON September 4, 2025—The plans announced by Florida Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, to end vaccine mandates across the state will put the lives and well-being of Floridians, visitors to the state, and individuals across the country in jeopardy. Vaccines are one of our most effective tools for protecting public health. Vaccines save lives and decreasing vaccination rates will kill people.

The American College of Physicians strongly supports increasing vaccination rates and opposes non-medical exemptions to vaccine requirements. Surgeon General Ladapo’s plan moves Florida and our country in the wrong direction. We need to employ as many different methods as possible to ensure sufficient vaccine use, including required vaccines. Communities with higher rates of unvaccinated individuals are at higher risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illness. The success of vaccines depends on more than just the effectiveness of a particular immunization, it depends on public trust in immunizations as a public health tool. The announcement in Florida, in addition to the troubling actions regarding vaccines we have seen from other public officials this year, falsely cast doubt on the use of vaccines counter to decades of evidence proving their safety and efficacy. Florida officials need to reverse course and preserve requirements for vaccines, the health and lives of all of us, our children and families, depends on it.

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About the American College of Physicians 
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 162,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.