Aiexpress – Florida’s surgeon general is facing backlash for his handling of a measles outbreak in an elementary school. Instead of following federal guidelines that mandate the exclusion of unvaccinated children from school, he is leaving the decision up to parents. This choice has sparked controversy and raised concerns about public health.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a well-known figure for his vocal skepticism toward the COVID-19 vaccine, recently addressed the parents of Manatee Bay Elementary School near Fort Lauderdale. This comes in light of six students at the school testing positive for the highly contagious and potentially fatal virus. While such outbreaks are uncommon in the United States, there has been a noticeable increase in reported cases, rising from 58 in 2023 to 35 already this year.
During a measles outbreak at a school, it is typically advised that unvaccinated students who have not been previously infected with the disease should stay at home for a period of three weeks. This precaution is taken due to the significant risk of them contracting the illness.
The state, for now, has decided not to make the recommendation mentioned in the letter into a mandate. According to the Broward County school district, out of the 1,067 students at Manatee Bay, 33 have not received at least one shot of the two-dose measles vaccine. It is important to note that this vaccine provides protection against not only measles but also mumps and rubella, and it remains highly effective even after just one dose. Manatee Bay is located in Weston, which is an affluent suburb with a median household annual income exceeding $120,000.
Florida is refusing to bar unvaccinated students from school despite a measles outbreak.
Jackie Quinn, an AP correspondent, has reported on the defiance of Florida’s top health official towards federal guidelines regarding the protection of children from the measles.
According to Ladapo, the state health department is allowing parents or guardians to decide whether their children should attend school or not. This decision is based on the high immunity rate in the community and the challenges faced by families, such as the educational cost of healthy children missing school. Ladapo, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2021, shares a similar viewpoint with the governor regarding COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates as well as school closures.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, unvaccinated children “must be excluded” from school for three weeks. However, the wording used by the individual contradicts these guidelines. It is important to note that states are not obligated to adhere to these recommendations.
Critics, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, are expressing their disapproval of the decision to not prohibit unvaccinated children, both in Florida and across the nation.
Dr. Rana Alissa, the Florida vice president of the academy, emphasized the importance of following CDC guidelines for the safety of children. According to Dr. Alissa, allowing unvaccinated children to attend school during an outbreak not only puts them at risk, but also poses a danger to individuals with compromised immune systems who may contract the disease from them.
“When containing an outbreak, it is crucial to adhere to public health and safety recommendations rather than providing individuals with a choice,” she emphasized. “In fact, it is the very act of giving people a choice that has led us to this current situation.”
According to Jodie Guest, an epidemiologist at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, the guidelines provided by the CDC have been developed through years of scientific research and refinement. However, there has been a proliferation of misinformation regarding the safety of the measles vaccine. The CDC clarifies that the vaccine, in extremely rare cases, may lead to non-permanent and non-life-threatening seizures.
“There is an alarming spread of scientific misinformation during this pandemic,” she exclaimed.
Ladapo’s office was unresponsive on Friday when contacted for a comment regarding the criticism.
According to the school district, it is the health department that has the authority to decide whether unvaccinated students should be excluded. John Sullivan, a spokesperson for the district, declined to disclose whether the six sick children were unvaccinated, citing privacy reasons.
Florida law mandates that students receive vaccinations for measles and other contagious diseases. However, there are exemptions available for medical reasons, as determined by a doctor, or for religious reasons, as affirmed by parents who hold conflicting beliefs. It’s important to note that officials are not permitted to inquire about the specific details of these religious beliefs.
Infants who haven’t received the vaccinations, as well as individuals with compromised immune systems due to conditions like cancer and HIV, are among those most vulnerable to the disease. Pregnant women also face potential risks to their fetuses.
Before the introduction of measles vaccinations in 1963, over 400,000 Americans would contract the disease each year. These numbers saw a significant decline, with only 47,000 cases reported in 1970 and a further decrease to 13,000 cases in 1980. Although there was a slight increase to 27,000 cases in 1990, the number of reported measles infections in 2000 dropped to less than 100.
The number of cases saw a significant increase, reaching 1,200 in 2019. However, the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 caused a decline in the numbers once again.
