President Donald Trump expressed reservations Friday, saying Americans should get vaccinated with vaccines that are “not controversial,” while distancing himself from Florida’s decision to eliminate all vaccine mandates in schools, even for minors.

Trump offered one of his clearest defenses of vaccines yet, responding to a reporter’s question about his stance regarding Florida’s controversial new health care policy pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.

“I think we need to be very cautious. There are incredible vaccines,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, citing the polio vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine, developed during his first term.

“There are incredible vaccines. I think we need to be very cautious in saying that some people don’t have to take the vaccine,” Trump continued. “That’s a very tough position to take. I just learned about it yesterday, and it’s a tough position to take.”

“Look, there are vaccines that work. They just work. They’re not at all controversial, and I think they should be used, otherwise some people are going to get infected and endanger other people,” Trump added. “And when there’s no controversy, I think people should get vaccinated.”

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made the announcement Wednesday, with Ladapo comparing vaccine requirements to slavery.

Ladapo said his department will repeal mandates within its control, and the state Legislature will handle the rest.

Florida school districts, like others across the country, require vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, measles, rubella, pertussis, mumps, tetanus and other communicable diseases.

The move comes as childhood vaccination rates are already declining and the federal government has removed the COVID vaccine from the list of recommended vaccines for healthy children.

Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been vocal in his opposition to vaccines for years.

Throughout his tenure, he has unilaterally altered COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, cut funding for mRNA research, removed influential members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory panel, and hinted at major changes to the childhood vaccination schedule.

Kennedy, whom Trump has supported as criticism of his leadership has mounted, faced grilling from senators at a September 4 hearing over actions as the nation’s top health official that reflect his longstanding skepticism about vaccines.