In a fervent critique of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Casey DeSantis, the spouse of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, lambasted the agency for its ongoing endorsement of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for infants and children.
She labeled this recommendation as an "utter disgrace," reflecting her staunch opposition to what she perceives as an overreach in public health policy.
Casey DeSantis, a mother of three, is actively campaigning for the Florida legislature to enact a permanent prohibition on COVID-19 vaccine mandates within the state. This push comes as certain existing protections are poised to lapse in June. Her remarks, delivered during a news conference in Tampa, were part of a broader initiative led by Governor DeSantis to solidify these protections.
"It is absolutely ridiculous and unconscionable that at this point, with what we know about the mRNA COVID vaccine, and frankly, what we don't know about the COVID mRNA vaccine, that the CDC would still put this on the shot, still on their recommended vaccine list for our children," she asserted, as reported by Fox News.
The CDC's current guidelines, accessible on its website, indicate that infants as young as six months are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised its recommendations approximately 16 months ago, categorizing healthy children aged six months to 17 years as "low-priority" for vaccination.
"Modelling shows that the public health benefit of vaccination is lowest for healthy children and adolescents," the WHO stated in a study, emphasizing that the initial drive to vaccinate this demographic was primarily to prevent school closures.
Casey DeSantis emphasized that vaccine recommendations should be "evidence-based, not agenda-driven." She criticized the CDC for losing credibility when its guidance does not align with the comprehensive evidence available.
Furthermore, she expressed concern over instances where vaccine status has been used as a basis for discrimination, citing examples of mothers being expelled from pediatricians' offices and patients being denied medical care due to their vaccination status.
Governor Ron DeSantis, standing alongside his wife, reiterated his commitment to safeguarding individual freedoms against vaccine mandates. "Im here as governor endorsing making these protections permanent," he declared. "You should not be forced to take an mRNA shot against your will, and that should be the right of every Floridian." He also expressed gratitude to his wife for her unwavering support and "righteous anger at the CDC pushing the mRNA shots on our kids."
The event also featured Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a vocal critic of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a young man who shared his adverse experience with the vaccine. This gathering underscored the DeSantis administration's dedication to challenging federal health directives and advocating for personal choice in medical decisions.
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