Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida’s administration issued Covid-19 vaccine recommendations this week that directly contradicted federal officials’ guidance as his presidential campaign tries to use the resurgence of the virus to appeal to Republican voters.
With cases ticking up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Tuesday that everyone six months and older who had not received a Covid-19 shot in the last two months receive a booster vaccine. The new shots, approved by the Food and Drug Administration this week, appear to be effective against a vast majority of Covid-19 variants now in circulation, according to data presented at a C.D.C. meeting on Tuesday.
Mr. DeSantis’s administration advised that Florida residents under the age of 65 skip the updated boosters.
“I will not stand by and let the F.D.A. and C.D.C. use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots,” Mr. DeSantis, who has a history of downplaying the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, said in a statement after he hosted an online panel Wednesday to discuss the new federal guidelines.
Appearing alongside Mr. DeSantis was Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, and other medical doctors who expressed skepticism about the shots.
“What I have directed our department to do is to provide guidance that really recommends and advises against the use of these mRNA Covid-19 vaccines for anyone under 65,” Dr. Ladapo said during the panel on Wednesday.
Covid-19 cases have steadily increased since July, and public health officials have warned of a comeback for the virus in the fall and winter months — though some experts say that this year is less alarming than previous years. Conspiracy theorists, right-wing influencers and politicians have seized on the moment to stoke fears that the government would again initiate widespread shutdowns or masking requirements to help prevent the spread of the disease. But federal and state officials have not suggested that those types of measures are under consideration.
In the release accompanying Mr. DeSantis’s statement, the governor’s office said that Covid-19 vaccines had “shown little to no benefit to prevent Covid-19 infection” — a claim that is directly contradicted by a host of evidence from doctors, public health officials and infectious disease experts.
The C.D.C. specifies that while older adults and “persons with weakened immune systems” are at greater risk for hospitalization and death from the disease, “healthy children and adults can still experience severe disease.” The “benefits of Covid-19 vaccination continue to outweigh any potential risks,” the agency said. Mr. DeSantis — whose presidential campaign has floundered amid money troubles and mass layoffs — has frequently appealed to Covid-19-related concerns among the Republican base, both from the governor’s office and on the campaign trail.
Mr. DeSantis has talked up his handling of the virus in the state to contrast himself with former President Donald J. Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential race whom he trails badly in polls, and whose administration headed the development of the coronavirus vaccines that are now very unpopular among Republican voters. Mr. DeSantis often highlights that he was one of the first governors to fully reopen his state after a pandemic lockdown.
At a public health event in Jacksonville last week that, in the absence of formal policy announcements, resembled a campaign rally, Mr. DeSantis said: “I can tell you here in Florida, we did not and we will not allow the dystopian visions of paranoid hypochondriacs to control our health policies, let alone our state.”
Republican leaders really go out of their way to kill their own voters. Interesting strategy.
They will lose a lot more voters by flip flopping on their covid stance. They know their base is fanatic and don’t care about scientific data contradicting their beliefs.
Stay the course no matter what. Feed the fanaticism. That’s their entire platform.
They could just say nothing.
“I’m not one to wish death on anyone, but there will be some obituaries that I will read with great pleasure.”
I cannot upvote this comment enough
Florida leads the country in new covid hospitalizations, with 11.81 per 100,000 in the week ending Sept. 2, a 4.4 percent increase from the previous week
I’d bet my last tooth that the slimy weasel gets the booster shot himself.
I call that a Fox Special
Mr. DeSantis’s administration advised that Florida residents under the age of 65 skip the updated boosters.
“I will not stand by and let the F.D.A. and C.D.C. use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots,” Mr. DeSantis, who has a history of downplaying the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, said in a statement after he hosted an online panel Wednesday to discuss the new federal guidelines.
How many Floridians have lost their lives to COVID due to his political grandstanding so far? When will enough be enough? I don’t know how he sleeps at night with all that blood and pudding on his hands.
He is inspired by the words of the prince in the Shrek movie: “some of you may die, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay”.
Probably what people like him live for unfortunately.
Reading between the lines a little, the littlest dictator is saying:
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Don’t use healthy Floridians as Guinea pigs for these vaccines.
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Only get it if you’re over 65
Covid hospitalizations in FL are skyrocketing. Desantis knows the vaccines are effective, which is why he’s not precluding elderly VOTERS from seeking it in his guidance. He doesn’t care if young people, who even in his hellscape of a state aren’t a guaranteed supporter, get sick and / or die from this virus. He’s hoping that he can buoy those who are almost entirely in his voting bloc while “proving a point” in his dumbass culture war.
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I don’t give a fuck if these cunts die of covid. But damn if they aren’t going to infect other people and screw over many more when they drop dead.
I’m going to get the booster just because he said not to. I mean, not getting Covid is good too.
I’ll take one of those shots, Ron, since you don’t need them…
“I can tell you here in Florida, we did not and we will not allow the dystopian visions of paranoid hypochondriacs to control our health policies, let alone our state.”
– Ron DeSantis, paranoid fascist
“This will help me become president FOR SURE!” he said, then spun the little spinny propeller on his beanie cap.
Someone get this man some glasses so he can stop squinting… maybe that’s his whole problem and it’s only a misunderstanding. He’s just angry he can’t see.
Asshole.
Everything he says and does defies logic and reason.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Ron DeSantis of Florida’s administration issued Covid-19 vaccine recommendations this week that directly contradicted federal officials’ guidance as his presidential campaign tries to use the resurgence of the virus to appeal to Republican voters.
The new shots, approved by the Food and Drug Administration this week, appear to be effective against a vast majority of Covid-19 variants now in circulation, according to data presented at a C.D.C.
use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots,” Mr. DeSantis, who has a history of downplaying the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, said in a statement after he hosted an online panel Wednesday to discuss the new federal guidelines.
Appearing alongside Mr. DeSantis was Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, and other medical doctors who expressed skepticism about the shots.
Conspiracy theorists, right-wing influencers and politicians have seized on the moment to stoke fears that the government would again initiate widespread shutdowns or masking requirements to help prevent the spread of the disease.
In the release accompanying Mr. DeSantis’s statement, the governor’s office said that Covid-19 vaccines had “shown little to no benefit to prevent Covid-19 infection” — a claim that is directly contradicted by a host of evidence from doctors, public health officials and infectious disease experts.
The original article contains 581 words, the summary contains 207 words. Saved 64%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
