Florida Moves to Strip Vaccine Mandate Power from Health Officer

Florida’s surgeon general would no longer have the authority to mandate vaccinations during a public health emergency, under legislation heading to the governor’s desk on Wednesday.

That power hasn’t ever been used since lawmakers granted it to the state’s top health officer in 2002. Removing it from state statutes ensures that such power can’t be abused, and it preserves individual choices, Sen. Aaron Bean (R) said on the Senate floor.

“How and why would Florida give absolute power to just one person to choose for 21.5 million Floridians over who gets what vaccine?” Bean said.

The bill (H.B. 7B ...