Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo earlier this week announced the state is officially recommending against healthy children receiving the COVID shots. DeSantis and Ladapo were joined by numerous doctors and experts to echo comments railing against lockdowns and mandates.
DeSantis referred to the press conference as ending the “COVID theater.”
“Over the past two years, the data has shown us what works and what doesn’t work. It is long past time to stop the COVID theater,” said DeSantis. “In Florida, we told the truth, we let the data drive our response, and we let Floridians make decisions for themselves and their children. As a result, Florida is in a better spot than states who used fear mongering and mandates.”
According to Ladapo’s Florida Department of Health (FDOH) guidance, healthy children should not be receiving COVID shots and warned against adolescents also receiving them.
“In general, healthy children with no significant underlying health conditions under 16 years old are at little to no risk of severe illness complications from COVID-19,” FDOH said. “For adolescents 16 to 17 years of age, the risk of myocarditis due to the COVID-19 vaccines may outweigh the benefits.”
FDOH did note that parents with children who have underlying health conditions ought to consider the shot.
“Based on currently available data, healthy children aged 5 to 17 may not benefit from receiving the currently available COVID-19 vaccine,” FDOH said. “The Department recommends that children with underlying conditions are the best candidates for the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Ladapo said, in an official release, said personal medical decisions ought to be left to the individual.
“It is essential for health care practitioners to analyze existing data on the COVID-19 vaccine alongside parents when deciding to vaccinate children,” said Ladapo. “Based on currently available data, the risks of administering COVID-19 vaccination among healthy children may outweigh the benefits. That is why these decisions should be made on an individual basis, and never mandated.”
Ladapo, in a video posted to Rumble, took shots at pro-lockdown politicians and news outlets that continued to incite fear during the pandemic.
“I remember my wife and I looking at the newspapers and looking at the editorial section of The New York Times and thinking ‘What in Heaven’s name are these people thinking?’” Ladapo said. “Sure enough, obviously, it’s proven to be true, that these people had no idea what they’re talking about. I think one thing that’s very important is to not let these people get away with it.”
Last month, DeSantis and Ladapo unveiled a new effort to “Buck the CDC” and released a revamped set of guidance including ending universal masking, especially for employees.
DeSantis and Ladapo were joined at the announcement alongside notable physicians and experts including Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Dr. Robert Malone, and Dr. Christopher D’Adamo, among others.
In Florida, we protect the rights of Floridians to make decisions for themselves and their children.
We reject narratives and hysteria in favor of truth and data. There is no place in Florida for COVID theater.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 7, 2022
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Young Boy Getting Vaccinated” by SELF Magazine. CC BY 2.0.
