Vaccine mandates are the greater good
Citing “parental/personal choice” and comparing mandates to “slavery,” Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo just announced the DeSantis administration’s plans to remove mandates (which he described as “dripping with disdain”) on a group of childhood vaccines —all of which have been proven to be safe and effective.
Florida to end all vaccine mandates, surgeon general says
To live harmoniously in a democratic society, while we relish our freedoms (particularly that of choice), there are times when we have to give up a bit of that freedom to serve the greater good. Such has been the case with vaccine mandates.
In the winter of 1777 while fighting for our independence, General George Washington sent a directive to the Continental Army’s Medical Director, Dr. William Shippen Jr., ordering the mandatory inoculation of the entire Continental Army against smallpox which had been decimating both the military and civilian populations.
Washington was not a physician or college graduate, but a land surveyor by trade. He had no political agenda behind his inoculation mandate. His foresight enabled the Patriot forces to remain sufficiently strong to ultimately win the Revolutionary War. We should keep that in mind as we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday next year.
Now might be a good time for our governor and surgeon general to review this great example of leadership by General Washington.
Steve Bender Orange City
Steve Bender was a longtime public health educator focusing on child safety in Volusia County.
Vaccine mandates like slavery?
Florida officials plan to eliminate all school vaccine mandates as Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo equates them to slavery — but our State Board of Education equates slavery with beneficial skills that could be applied for personal benefit.
So with that rationale, eliminating school vaccine mandates could equate to less personal benefit, including illness or death.
The Sunshine State could be going back to the Dark Ages.
Kathy Ojeda Merritt Island
Why not reject all rules that protect us?
The current generation is the first in more than100 years to have a life expectancy lower than the prior generation. This is because of the systematic and coordinated rejection of science. It is science that has progressively made us safer, stronger and healthier.
So, flying in the face of proven science, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis are planning to eliminate mandatory vaccines, allowing parents to decide whether to immunize their vulnerable children.
Let’s extend this stance to other areas where science has made us safer, shall we? Allow minors to purchase cigarettes and alcohol. Decriminalize possession and use of all dangerous drugs. Let’s quit applying standards to food cultivation and distribution.
Let’s eliminate mandatory seat belts and other transportation safety devices like air bags and anti-lock brakes. While we’re at it, why don’t we eliminate all speed limits and traffic laws? After all, it should be my choice how fast I go and whether I should stop at an intersection, right?
These ridiculous extensions of the “leave it up to us” mentality don’t really represent a stretch from the rejection of science promoted by Ladapo and DeSantis.
Doug Quara Mount Dora
You can submit a letter to the editor by sending it by email to insight@orlandosentinel.com or by filling out the form below. Letters are limited to less than 250 words and must be signed (no pseudonyms nor initials).You must include your email address, address with city and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/06/letters-dont-remove-vaccine-mandates/
