Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, including those requiring children to be immunised against polio, measles, and other diseases to attend school, BBC reported.

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called the mandates “slavery” and pledged to eliminate “every last one,” though no timeline was given. Some rules may require legislative approval, while others could be repealed by the health department.

The move has drawn criticism from doctors and Democratic lawmakers, who warned it could spark a public health crisis. Currently, Florida requires vaccinations for illnesses like chickenpox, hepatitis B, and mumps.

In response, Democratic-led states including California, Oregon, and Washington formed an alliance to uphold vaccine guidance from national medical organizations, according to BBC.