* Tampa Bay Times…
Florida is set to push for an end to all state vaccine mandates, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced at a news conference Wednesday.
For decades, the state has required numerous vaccines for kids attending school, a list that today includes shots that protect against measles-mumps-rubella, polio, chickenpox and Hepatitis B.
But Ladapo on Wednesday compared these mandates to “slavery,” and promised that they all will soon end.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response. From Matt Hill…
There is no way to make measles, mumps, rubella, or polio great again. Immunizations have saved more than 154 million lives in the last 50 years — and mostly infants.
Governor Pritzker takes public health seriously unlike Gov. DeSantis whose reckless rollback on vaccines puts children’s lives at risk. His Surgeon General’s comparison of lifesaving medicine to slavery is also insulting and dangerous.
In Illinois, we’ll keep standing up for science and protecting our kids.
- Sir Reel - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 8:54 am:
More evidence of America’s decline under Republican “leadership.”
- Travel Guy - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:01 am:
I have an idea for the new state motto of Florida.
“Florida: The state that makes the rest of the south look sophisticated.”
Though we may have to change “sophisticated” to fancy so that Florida residents can spell and understand it.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:08 am:
What a super dumb idea in Florida. What on earth good could come of it. But other than Pritzker reminding people of Florida that vaccines are required to attend school in Illinois and telling at risk Illinois people to skip a Florida vacation what business is it of Illinois
- Pundent - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:09 am:
Equating life saving vaccines to slavery? A truly bizarre take from the pro-life party.
- Big Dipper - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:17 am:
Is medical school too easy if a kook like Ladapo can graduate?
- Baloneymous - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:24 am:
I wonder when these no-vax kids graduate from high school and want to attend out of state universities or join the military, are they going to run into issues that were out of their control when they were babies and little kids and had no clue about the future repercussions.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:27 am:
(Completely preventable) child death, brought to you by the supposedly “pro life” party.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:28 am:
Carlins words ring so true: “If you’re pre-born, you’re fine; if you’re preschool, you’re ******.”
Just waiting for dear old Sue to tell us how this is a great thing, that it will revitalize the local tiny coffin industry, they’ll make a killing.
- Jibba - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:30 am:
I guess Illinois won’t be losing another congressional seat in 2030 after all.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:30 am:
It was about 15 years ago when I first started hearing anti-vaccine nonsense out of hippies who’d killed too many brain cellls. It’s hard for me to believe it’s become mainstream among right wingers in such a short time.
- Dust Commander - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:31 am:
This is terrible, and one of the many reasons I would not live, or raise horses in Florida.
- Independent - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:32 am:
The current Surgeon General was appointed as acting. Ladopo is clearly auditioning for the full time job. He can look to Pam Bondi for inspiration.
- JoanP - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:42 am:
= what business is it of Illinois =
It’s our business because people from Illinois travel to Florida, many having second homes there.
It’s our business because Floridians travel to Illinois.
It’s our business because families go to Disney World and then come here.
It’s our business because polio, measles, chickenpox, etc. don’t care about state borders.
And it’s our business because we care about people’s health.
- Who else - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 9:44 am:
==what business is it of Illinois==
Viruses don’t care about state lines and they’ll happily hitch a ride out of Florida. That’s why a cohesive, collaborative global approach to public health is so important.
- Politix - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:11 am:
++what business is it of Illinois++
We care about people. Empathy. It’s become a tough concept for many.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:16 am:
Whether you traveled to Florida must now be one of the screening question nurses ask when you go to your doctor appointment.
- Rudy’s teeth - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:18 am:
Wonder how many of the folks who are anti-vax have no problem using medications to enhance certain body parts and body functions? Little pills can produce big results. Hypocrites.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:33 am:
“There is no way to make measles, mumps, rubella, or polio great again”
Does ivermectin work on these diseases? What about swimming in sewage to build up immunity? Podcast doctors and utterly unqualified federal health leaders want to know.
Will other GOP states follow suit? For years Illinois doomers wanted the state to be like Florida and red states. Hard, hard, hard pass.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:53 am:
Just a decade ago there was a major measles outbreak tied to visitors to Disneyland in California. I guess Ron DeSantis and company in Florida got jealous of the “Disneyland effect” and want it to be the “Disney World effect.” How many dead children are enough for the so-called party of life?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8828106/
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:54 am:
The science is irrefutable: Vaccines work. When Florida’s children start getting these easily preventable diseases–and some die–what are they going to blame then?
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:58 am:
I have seen Florida from Ft. Walton Beach to Key West and will never, ever understand the fascination with that state.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 10:59 am:
Ok, I’ll put it mildly: You have to give birth to a child in FL.
It’s up to you if you want to play with infectious diseases after said child is born.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 11:58 am:
Florida, the state I will not travel to. When the Republican Whip goes after the wacky ideas of Sec. Kennedy, you know you’ve gone too far. Disney World gonna be lit, and not in a good way.
- Stix Hix - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 12:03 pm:
Lapado said, “They do not have the right to tell you what you put in your body”.
Cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, meth?
- BE - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
==”I’m not going to tell your kids what they can and can’t put into their bodies”.==
Except forcing women to give birth, whether the sex is consensual or not or to save her life or denying people gender confirming healthcare if they are trans.
- Mason County - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 2:10 pm:
Ending of vaccine requirements for school children is beyond absurd. The world has made tremendous strides in reducing the effects of so many diseases. And it has been a particular blessing in this country.
I do not understand why anyone would want to stop this. Perhaps, if the child’s physciian says they will have a negative rection- well then I can understand.
- Frida's Boss - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 3:59 pm:
Wait until Florida kids have to go to college in other states and can’t until they get vaccinated. All of this vaccination lunacy is because they didn’t want to take the COVID shot. People are goofy. The Jenni McCarthy theory shouldn’t be the norm.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Sep 5, 25 @ 4:00 pm:
== Perhaps, if the child’s physciian says they will have a negative rection- well then I can understand.
Excellent point Mason and you are right. There are some kids who cannot take them and part of the reason we vaccinate is to keep them safe.