Florida surgeon general defends ‘slavery’ comparison to vaccine mandates

(NewsNation) — Florida’s surgeon general joined “CUOMO” on Friday to defend his controversial bid to end his state’s mandates for vaccines, including for children at school, and for comparing such mandates with “slavery.”

Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Wednesday announced the plan, some of which may require lawmaker approval, and couched it as an issue of personal freedom for individuals and parents who know what’s best for their children.

Joseph Ladapo calls vaccine mandates 'slavery'

It was this remark on vaccine mandates that arguably drew the most attention: "Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.”

Friday, the health official doubled down on the remark, emphasizing that he was speaking about mandates "over what you put in your body." He also told “CUOMO” he was neither supporting nor denigrating vaccines.

“During this job, I’ve mostly had scientific discussions, but this one is actually more political,” Ladapo said. “Because it is a philosophical discussion. And the philosophical debate is about whether parents’ rights should prevail when it comes to the rights of their children or whether the government’s rights … should prevail.”

He added: “The parents must prevail.”

School districts in Florida, like others across the country, currently require vaccinations for polio, diphtheria, rubeola, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases. 

Supporters of vaccine mandates say they are necessary to broadly control infectious illnesses, including diseases that have been virtually eradicated, even if they impose upon personal preferences and beliefs.