By now you’ve heard all of the angry commentary about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on vaccines and young children. Such as this reaction from former Planned Parenthood head and current “health expert” Dr. Leana Wen:
Unbelievable. Florida Governor DeSantis is recommending AGAINST covid vaccines for healthy children. This completely goes against CDC guidance & recommendations from American Academy of Pediatrics. Vaccines are safe, effective, and prevent severe illness. https://t.co/hIiICsb0LT
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) March 8, 2022
But, is this REALLY so controversial? It turns out, nope:
I don't think a single day goes by where I don't marvel at the fact that Florida's COVID policies are more closely aligned with progressive Scandinavian countries than the so-called progressive US states' are.
— NYC Angry Mom (@angrybklynmom) March 7, 2022
Remember when libs shouted to be more like Sweden?
The new pronouncement that Florida won't recommend COVID vaccine for healthy children puts Florida in line with places like Sweden. I don't see anyone called Sweden "anti-vax," for some reason. https://t.co/rgWOyczdnk
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) March 7, 2022
We’ll also point out that the FDA’s own advisory panel wasn’t exactly 100% on board with the jab for young, healthy kids:
The White House and the political expert class are outraged that the Florida is not recommending an unapproved COVID vaccine to young children… as a reminder here are the things the FDA's own advisory panel said when they recommended the emergecy use authorization.
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
Here’s Phil Kerpen with the must-read thread (emphasis ours):
From FDA adviser Dr. Michael Nelson: “Every vote here today is probably going to be caveated. I see this as an access and a personal choice and equity question and not a mandate for all of this age group. We should not underestimate the knowledge and decision-making power of the public”:
FDA advsr Dr. Michael Nelson: "Every vote here today is probably going to be caveated. I see this as an access and a personal choice and equity question and not a mandate for all of this age group. We should not underestimate the knowledge and decisionmaking power of the public."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
From FDA adviser Dr. Cody Meissner: “I’m just worried that if we say yes, the states are going to mandate administration of this vaccine to children in order to go to school. And I do not agree with that. I think that would be an error at this time”:
FDA adviser Dr. Cody Meissner: "I’m just worried that if we say yes, the states are going to mandate administration of this vaccine to children in order to go to school. And I do not agree with that. I think that would be an error at this time."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
From FDA adviser Dr. Eric Rubin: “I do think that it’s a relatively close call… but we’re never going to learn about how safe the vaccine is until we start giving it.”
FDA adviser Dr. Eric Rubin: "I do think that it's a relatively close call… but we're never going to learn about how safe the vaccine is until we start giving it."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
From FDA adviser Dr. James Hildreth: “This is a really tough one for me but I do believe children at high risk should be vaccinated, but vaccinating all the children to achieve that just seems a bit much for me.”
FDA adviser Dr. James Hildreth: "This is a really tough one for me but I do believe children at high risk should be vaccinated, but vaccinating all the children to achieve that just seems a bit much for me."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
From FDA adviser Dr. Mark Sawyer: “We’re all concerned about the myocarditis issue and I do think the model has overestimated the hospitalizations prevented… I do think we need it as a tool for high-risk children.”
FDA adviser Dr. Mark Sawyer: "We're all concerned about the myocarditis issue and I do think the model has overestimated the hospitalizations prevented… I do think we need it as a tool for high-risk children."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
From FDA adviser Dr. Michael Kurilla: “For children who have undergone a delta infection, does now vaccinating them with a strain that goes back now nearly two years, does that actually help or hurt their current immune system with regard to ongoing variants? We have no idea”:
FDA adviser Dr. Michael Kurilla: "For children who have undergone a delta infection, does now vaccinating them with a strain that goes back now nearly two years, does that actually help or hurt their current immune system with regard to ongoing variants? We have no idea."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
Full statement here:
FDA adviser Dr. Michael Kurilla: pic.twitter.com/BsCNOn1YzB
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
And, finally, from FDA adviser Dr. Oveta Fuller: “We cannot see the effects of COVID-19 so dramatically on children, and thus it raises the question: is it worth the risk? Giving parents the option to make that decision for themselves will be something we will be glad we were able to do“:
FDA adviser Dr. Oveta Fuller: "We cannot see the effects of COVID-19 so dramatically on children, and thus it raises the question: is it worth the risk? Giving parents the option to make that decision for themselves will be something we will be glad we were able to do."
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 7, 2022
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