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DeSantis pushes legislation that would make vaccine mandate protections permanent in Florida

By FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  March 5, 2025 4:01pm EST
Ron DeSantis
FOX 13 News

The Brief

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo spoke at a news conference in Tampa on Wednesday.
    • The governor endorsed legislation that would make vaccine mandate protections permanent in Florida.
    • Some of the legislation that was passed to block vaccine mandates from impacting Floridians is set to expire in June.

TAMPA, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis made an appearance in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon.

He held a news conference at Harpoon Harry’s about another piece of legislation that concerns vaccine mandates. 

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He discussed at length how Florida responded to COVID-19 back in 2020 and 2021, mentioning the state’s actions to reopen businesses and restaurants.

However, some of the legislation that was passed to block vaccine mandates from impacting Floridians is set to expire in June. It’s why the governor said he wants to make those protections permanent. 

"I’m here as governor endorsing making these protections permanent," Gov. DeSantis said. "You should not be forced to take an mRNA shot against your will, and that should be the right of every Floridian."

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the COVID-19 vaccine helps reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death in patients who are six months and older. 

Governor DeSantis was joined by Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis as well as Ryan Wilson and his mother, who shared their story about health impacts Ryan had after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Source: The information in this story was gathered during Gov. DeSantis' news conference in Tampa.

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