TALLAHASSEE, FLA. Joseph Ladapo, Florida Surgeon General, said Monday that the state will officially recommend against giving the COVID-19 vaccine to healthy children.
Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event hosted by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, which was attended by a group of doctors critical of coronavirus containment and mandatory policies. It remains unclear when the state will publish its health guidelines.
“The Florida Department of Health will be the first state to officially recommend against giving the COVID-19 vaccine to healthy children,” Ladapo said at the end of the roundtable discussion.
He added: “We are removing the bottom of the bin, especially with healthy babies, in terms of really being able to quantify with any accuracy and any confidence in the potential for benefit. “.
The move is Florida’s latest foray from the White House’s coronavirus policy, as US health officials approve and encourage the use of a COVID-19 vaccine in children under the age of 5. The vaccine is not approved for use in children under five years of age.
DeSantis, who is running for re-election and is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has risen to prominence in the GOP through his pushback against vaccine regulations and other public health guidelines. promoted by the federal government.
Late last month, Ladapo and DeSantis published new policy recommendations discouraging the wearing of masks and guiding physicians to self-assess when treating virus patients, including the use of therapeutic approaches. emerging treatments and off-label drugs.
The Florida state Senate confirmed Ladapo as a surgeon general this year despite criticism that his virus health policy was too aligned with DeSantis politics.
