Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Says There Will Be No Children’s COVID Vaccine Mandate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, drew a line in sand Thursday and told reporters that he opposes mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for children.

A panel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), voted Wednesday to include the vaccine in the Recommended Vaccines for Children Program (VFC). The shots would not be mandatory.

DeSantis stated, “As long I’m kicking & screaming, there won’t be any COVID shot mandates to your kids,” during a speech to announce an executive Order to provide tax relief to residents affected by Hurricane Ian. That is your choice as a parent.

According to the governor, he has received inquiries from his office about the CDC’s addition of the vaccine and schools mandating that students are vaccinated against COVID-19.

He said that these are new shots and added that the Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo had not recommended booster shots for children. “Basically, his reason is that there hasn’t been any proven benefit to that.”

Ladapo posted about the CDC panel a few days before the vote and said that nothing would be different in Florida, regardless of the outcome.

Politico reports that medical experts are rebutting Ladapo’s position on vaccines.

Missouri Gov. On Thursday, Mike Parson also expressed opposition to mandatory vaccines for children.