Progressives Say ‘Dangerous’ Legislation Will Lead to ‘Disease, Sickness, and Death’

Progressives are saying that “dangerous anti-vaccinations legislation” in the state legislature puts Floridians at risk, saying it will lead to “lower vaccination rates and more disease, sickness, and death.”

Democrats and progressives have been warning about Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans pushing medical freedom initiatives, specifically related to vaccines. Progress Florida is a group that “promotes progressive, freedom-centered values” and they have ramped up attacks on the Governor and other officials as the legislation moves forward.

Florida State Senator Clay Yarborough, a Jacksonville Republican, is sponsoring the “Medical Freedom Act” (SB 1756) to expand parents’ rights to opt out of school-mandated vaccines, and promotes actions like permitting pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription and limiting vaccine mandates. Progressives are saying vaccines are “under attack” in Florida.

“Florida anti-vax politicians, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and his anti-science surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, have consistently attacked the effectiveness and safety of vaccines and have proposed eliminating all required vaccines in Florida,” Progress Florida stated. “Now the Florida Senate is following their lead with legislation that, if passed, will put more Floridians’ health in jeopardy by relaxing school vaccination requirements. This bill, if enacted, will lead to lower vaccination rates and more disease, sickness, and death.”

For school vaccines, Florida already allows medical and religious exemptions. Progressives are warning that this bill would broaden that to philosophical exemptions at a time when vaccination coverage, especially for measles, has dropped below the level necessary for herd immunity.

“It’s no coincidence that as politicians like DeSantis and Ladapo spread vaccine disinformation, Florida is facing the 3rd largest measles outbreak in the nation,” Progress Florida stated.




The progressive group wants to stop this legislation that they say “puts Floridians at risk, undermines science, and is overwhelmingly opposed by the medical community.”

Despite the political pressure from the left including Progress Florida, Republicans are moving the legislation forward.