Facing a measles outbreak in an elementary school, the Surgeon General of Florida declined to recommend vaccination for all children and advised parents that it was their decision whether to send their unvaccinated children to school. Of course, like his stance against mRNA Covid vaccines, these policies contradict recommendations from the CDC and other Public Health Organizations.
Appointed by Governor DeSantis, Dr. Ladapo, the Surgeon General, is following the anti-science, "anti-woke" stance of that Conservative Republican Government. But when a trusted public official disseminates misinformation about vaccines and infectious diseases, he is, in my opinion, committing a criminal offense. Innocent, unvaccinated children may suffer severe complications from measles, including neurologic deficits, hearing loss, encephalitis and even death.
When politics and religion invade the realm of science, unnecessary suffering, illness and death often result. Unfortunately, it is usually the poor, the uneducated and the innocent who are the victims.
