Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Donald Trump, voiced support Wednesday for Florida’s plan to end mandatory childhood vaccinations in schools.
Speaking on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, Oz said he would “definitely not have mandates for vaccinations,” framing the issue as one of parental and physician autonomy. “The parents love their kids more than anybody else… so why not let the parents play an active role in this?” he said.
Oz added that doctors “shouldn’t feel pressure from the government” regarding the vaccination schedule, and should instead focus on what “those parents desire.”
The comments follow an announcement by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that the state will move to eliminate school vaccine requirements. Ladapo said the Department of Health can remove mandates on “half a dozen” vaccines, while additional changes would require action by the governor and Legislature.
Florida’s long-standing school immunization requirements include vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and other communicable diseases. Public health officials warn the rollback could jeopardize herd immunity, particularly for highly contagious illnesses like measles, which requires about 95% vaccination coverage to prevent outbreaks.
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