TALLAHASSEE — The special session in Tallahassee started Monday, with lawmakers expected to pass four bills to try and counter the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate.

That mandate is currently halted in what is expected to be a lengthy court battle.

Republicans in Tallahassee are working to put protections in place for employees, but the proposal stops short of an outright ban on vaccine mandates.

There isn't expected to be much public debate, as Republicans have the votes they need. The session could even wrap up Wednesday or Thursday and not take the whole week.

Some folks will be coming up to the capital, though, to make their voices heard for and against vaccine mandates including a man we spoke to in Hernando County.

When Axl David bought his new home in Brooksville, he never thought he would soon be in danger of losing his job.

“I never in a million years thought I would get an email saying get the shot or you’ll be fired," he said.

But that’s exactly what happened. Axle works for a major aid organization and traveled the country assisting communities during the pandemic.

"When someone opposes the mandate, it always goes back to, 'Well why are you anti-vaccine, why are you anti-science, why are you anti-Dr. why are you anti-medical?' I’m not any of that stuff. My opposition is strictly to the mandates, the government saying take this medical procedure they may not even need or they’re fired. They’re out on the street.“

He’s already had COVID, but the federal mandate does not recognize natural immunity.

"There’s no medical reason to tell somebody with natural immunity that they need that vaccine, much less to tell someone they’re going to be fired, they’re gonna be kicked to the curb, they’re not gonna be able to pay their mortgage, they’re not gonna be able to put food on the table.“

One of the provisions expected to pass the special session addresses natural immunity. Florida employers would have to recognize it as on opt-out of any vaccine mandate.

The bills that are being considered are watered down from what the governor originally proposed. There is no plan to strip COVID-19 litigation protection from businesses. There’s also no bill for worker’s compensation for adverse reaction to the vaccines.

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