- FOX LiveNOW
- September 6, 2025
Florida has announced that it will become the first state in the U.S. to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates. The decision, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in public health policy and has sparked debate across the nation.
In a recent interview with FOX LiveNOW, Dr. Steven Quay joined the discussion to provide scientific and medical context.
Florida’s Surgeon General argued that vaccine mandates infringe on personal freedom and spiritual responsibility, stating that government does not have the right to dictate what individuals put in their bodies.
Dr. Quay provided perspective by comparing the U.S. to the United Kingdom, where vaccines are not mandated but strongly recommended. Despite this difference, uptake rates in both countries remain nearly identical, with more than 90% of children receiving the recommended vaccines.
“These vaccines are highly effective in reducing the spread and severity of disease,” Dr. Quay noted, emphasizing that all of his children have been vaccinated. “However, medical and religious circumstances should be respected, and decisions should be made within the physician–patient relationship, not mandated by government.”
Dr. Quay also explained the concept of herd immunity, the role of education in fostering parental decision-making, and the importance of rebuilding trust following the COVID-19 pandemic.
