In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. Examples include measles, COVID, flu, and polio.
Ron DeSantis's surgeon general is notorious in this respect.
Jacob Knutson at Axios:
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo contradicted federal health guidelines on measles this week by not urging parents to vaccinate their children against one of the world's most contagious viruses.
Why it matters: Ladapo's apathy toward measles vaccinations comes as a Florida elementary school is attempting to contain an outbreak and as measles cases have remerged across the U.S.
Details: In response to at least six confirmed measles cases at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Florida, Ladapo told parents in a letter that the state's health department was deferring to them for "decisions about school attendance.
- It's also an extension of effort by Ladapo and other conservative officials to undermine federal public health norms and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations — particularly those about vaccinations.
- "He said the state would not make a recommendation "due to the high immunity rate in the community, as well as the burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school."
- Ladapo acknowledged in the letter it's "normally" advised that unvaccinated children without a prior measles infection stay home for up to 21 days after a case is detected in a school — the CDC's guidance.
- The state surgeon general also did not recommend vaccines to prevent measles despite recognizing their effectiveness at preventing illness
