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In 2021, Ron DeSantis<\/strong> appointed Joseph Ladapo<\/strong> the surgeon general of Florida, after Ladapo\u2019s op-eds questioning mask-wearing, COVID-19 vaccines, and other public health measures caught<\/a> the governor\u2019s eye. In the ensuing years, Ladapo has recommended<\/a> children should not receive the COVID vaccine, has<\/a> \u201cweaponize[d] bad science to spread anti-vaccine disinformation\u00a0as official policy,\u201d and has personally<\/a> \u201caltered key findings in [a] study on Covid-19 vaccine safety.\u201d Now, Ladapo is bringing his medical point of view<\/em> to a measles outbreak that he appears happy to let explode on his watch.<\/p>\n In a letter sent to parents this week, Ladapo alerted them to a cluster of measles cases that had been identified in Manatee Bay Elementary School and wrote<\/a> that \u201cit is normally recommended that individuals without history of prior infection or vaccination stay home for up to 21 days,\u201d\u00a0as \u201cup to 90% of individuals without immunity will contract measles if exposed.\u201d Having said that? He\u2019s cool with people sending their unvaccinated children to school, despite that whole thing about 90% of<\/em> unvaccinated people likely contracting the disease. The Florida Department of Health, Ladapo said, \u201cis deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, health experts who actually believe in science have said such guidance is wildly irresponsible, with at least one blaming Ladapo for the outbreak. \u201cThe reason why there is a measles outbreak in Florida schools is because too many parents have not had their children protected by the safe and effective measles vaccine,\u201d John P. Moore,<\/strong> a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, told<\/a> The<\/em> Washington Post.<\/em> \u201cAnd why is that? It\u2019s because anti-vaccine sentiment in Florida comes from the top of the public health food-chain: Joseph Ladapo.\u201d Dr. Ben Hoffman,<\/strong> president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told the outlet the guidance from Florida \u201cruns counter to everything I have ever heard and everything that I have read. It runs counter to our policy. It runs counter to what the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] would recommend.\u201d (As the Post<\/em> notes, measles can cause severe health complications, including death.)<\/p>\n Patsy Stinchfield,<\/strong> president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told the Post<\/em> the outbreak will become a major threat to the community if unvaccinated people who\u2019ve been exposed to the disease don\u2019t follow health recommendations like staying at home during the time they may be contagious. In other words, things could get a lot worse if people listen to the Florida surgeon general.<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen, the modern Republican Party<\/strong><\/p>\n This content can also be viewed on the site it originates<\/a> from.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nothing to see here, just the front-runner for the GOP nomination appearing to suggest he\u2019s got blackmail material on his opponent<\/strong><\/p>\n This content can also be viewed on the site it originates<\/a> from.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Elsewhere!<\/strong><\/p>\n Biden announces more than 500 sanctions on Russia after Navalny\u2019s death<\/strong><\/p>\n NBC News \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Ohio GOP Senate candidates pitch federal abortion bans even after voters protected reproductive rights<\/strong><\/p>\n NBC News \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n An ectopic pregnancy put her life at risk. A Texas hospital refused to treat her.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Washington Post<\/em> \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Major Embryo Shipping Company Halts Business in Alabama<\/strong><\/p>\n NYT<\/em> \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Cohen\u2019s Moment of Truth Has Arrived<\/strong><\/p>\n New York<\/em> \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n How Did Haley\u2019s South Carolina Become Trump Country? Ask the Tea Party.<\/strong><\/p>\n NYT<\/em> \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Republicans struggle to escape their Biden impeachment quagmire<\/strong><\/p>\n The Washington Post<\/em> \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n Guinness World Records revokes title for oldest dog ever<\/strong><\/p>\n UPI \u2022 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nX content<\/h4>\n
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