“There won’t be any government programs trying, you know, to get Covid injections in babies, young children and newborns,” DeSantis, a Republican, told a news conference in South Florida. (Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration will apply to children over 6 months of age, not newborns.) This is not something we consider appropriate and we will not use our resources in this regard. “
DeSantis said on Thursday that the “risks outweigh the benefits” of vaccinating young children. Studies confirm the safety of vaccines, and health experts are very critical of a previous Florida Department of Health recommendation against vaccinating healthy children between the ages of 5 and 17.
DeSantis’ remarks came a day after it became clear that Florida was the only state not to pre-order vaccines for children under the age of 5 after the White House announced last week that it had provided 10 million doses of vaccine to states, territories, tribes and others for pre-order.
This was the first wave of orders and there will be other opportunities to participate in Florida. Doctors can also order vaccines themselves.
The Miami Herald announced for the first time the state’s decision not to pre-order vaccines. Earlier this year, the Florida Department of Health became the first state to violate CDC guidelines by recommending the vaccine to healthy children between the ages of 5 and 17, saying the risks outweighed the benefits.
DeSantis said Thursday that he did not expect problems for parents in Florida who want to provide vaccines for their children, noting that demand for the vaccine among adults in the state has declined in recent months. He suggested that parents receive vaccines for their children through doctors or hospitals.
“The state of Florida has had a recommendation of five and up for a while. We are the first state to do so. And now, in six to five months, the state’s recommendation is in effect,” DeSantis said. “It’s a recommendation not to do it. It’s different from saying you can’t. You’re free to choose; it’s not a problem.”
In a statement, Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Kobe Christian said DeSantis “uses child safety as political support.”
“Every other governor in the country – both Republicans and Democrats – has taken steps to ensure that this vaccine is available to children,” Christian said in a written statement. He added that it was “one thing” for DeSantis and Florida General Surgeon Joseph Ladapo “to choose not to vaccinate their own children, but to deprive Florida parents of this opportunity is not only irresponsible but cruel.”
Vaccine advisers at the FDA voted unanimously on Wednesday in favor of extending the emergency use permits for Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines to include children under 6 months of age.
Vaccines cannot be given to children aged 6 months to 5 years until CDC vaccine advisers vote on whether to recommend them and CDC Director Dr Rochelle Valenski has not signed the recommendation. CDC vaccine advisers are expected to vote on Saturday. The White House said the photos could start circulating next week.
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