Florida County Receives Major Punishment for Violating DeSantis’ Ban on Vaccine Mandates
A Florida county that sought to enforce a COVID-19 vaccine passport rule is being rapped across the wallet by state officials. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned vaccine passports and other vaccine mandates…

A Florida county that sought to enforce a COVID-19 vaccine passport rule is being rapped across the wallet by state officials.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned vaccine passports and other vaccine mandates in the state. Despite that action, Leon County imposed a vaccine mandate on its 714 employees, eventually firing 14 who did not comply.
As a result, the state is fining Leon County $3.57 million, according to a release Tuesday on the state health department’s website.
“The County’s illegal employee vaccine mandate results in 714 counts of violating law,” reads one of the headlines in the release.
“It is unacceptable that Leon County violated Florida law, infringed on current and former employees’ medical privacy, and fired loyal public servants because of their personal health decisions,” DeSantis said in the release.
“We will continue fighting for Floridians’ rights and the Florida Department of Health will continue to enforce the law. We’re going to stand up for Floridians’ jobs, stand up for Floridians’ livelihoods, and stand up for freedom.”
Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, said the state is working to allow Florida residents to make their own decisions without mandates.
“Firing hard working employees over vaccine passports has real and lasting consequences. It leads to resentment in the workplace, and loss of employment impacts individual and public health,” Ladapo said in the release.


