Florida’s top public health official opposes CDC guidelines amid surge in measles cases in Ft. Lauderdale School, telling parents in a letter that it is up to them to decide whether or not their child should be vaccinated or whether an unvaccinated child should stay home after being exposed.
In a letter sent to parents last week, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said a “cluster of measles cases” has been identified at Manatee Bay Elementary.
“When measles is detected at school, it is usually recommended that people with no history of previous infection or vaccination stay at home for up to 21 days. This is the period during which the virus can be transmitted,” Ladapo admitted in the letter, as reported The Washington Post.
But, he continued, “because of the high rate of immunity in the community, as well as the burden on families and the cost of educating healthy children who miss school, DOH leaves it up to parents or guardians to make school attendance decisions.”
“This recommendation may change as epidemiological studies continue,” he added.
Florida’s surgeon general was quickly criticized for saying ‘healthy children’ should not get the COVID vaccine
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dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
Ladapo has been criticized for his stance on vaccines in the past, and in 2022 he announced that he would issue guidelines that would make Florida “the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children.”
Ladapo and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who appointed him to the role — tried to justify this position by citing concerns about the potential health risks of the COVID-19 vaccine, despite numerous studies proving it is completely safe for children. The Centers for Disease Control urges people to get vaccinated because the virus itself poses a much greater health risk than the vaccine.
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Ladapo and DeSantis pointed to the risk of getting myocarditis, or heart inflammation, from the vaccine. However, the CDC said that cases of myocarditis have been “rarely reported, especially in adolescents and young adult males within a few days of” vaccination. In addition, the few who developed it generally “responded well to medication and rest and felt better quickly.”
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The Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics called Ladap’s announcement about the COVID vaccine “irresponsible.”
“A vaccine against COVID-19 is our best hope for ending the pandemic,” chapter president Dr. Lisa Gwynn said in a statement released at the time. “The Surgeon General’s comments today misrepresent the benefits of the vaccine, which has been shown to prevent serious illness, hospitalizations and long-term symptoms from COVID-19 in children and adolescents, including those who are otherwise healthy.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education