• Trump calls Florida's plan to end vaccine mandates a "tough stance."
• He urges the use of vaccines that are "not controversial."
• Florida's Surgeon General compared vaccine requirements to slavery.
• Trump's Health Secretary has faced criticism for anti-vaccine positions.
• Vaccination rates among children are reportedly declining.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his reservations regarding Florida's plan to eliminate vaccine mandates, referring to the stance as a "very tough position." He emphasized the importance of using effective vaccines, citing both the polio and COVID-19 vaccines as examples, stating, "You have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work," according to Reuters and India Times.

As Trump distanced himself from Florida's decision, the state's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo compared the removal of mandates to slavery, raising concerns about the implications for public health. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis supports the new policy, which seeks to repeal existing vaccination requirements for schoolchildren and others, according to The Hill.

Furthermore, Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized for his longstanding skepticism towards vaccines. His actions include purging advisory committee members and altering vaccine recommendations, which have led to controversy even among some Republican lawmakers, highlighting the complexities within current health policies, according to Reuters and The Hill.

Currently, vaccination rates among children in Florida and other states are declining, prompting health experts to question the potential public health risks involved in dismantling vaccine mandates. As health authorities face scrutiny, Trump has reiterated the need for effective vaccination measures to prevent outbreaks, citing data from various health sources, according to India Times and The Hill.