DeSantis Changes Mind—Allows Florida To Buy Covid Vaccines For Kids 5 And Younger

Topline

Florida has joined all 49 other states ordering Covid vaccines through a federal program for children age 5 and younger, according to multiple reports, after Governor Ron DeSantis (R) faced immense criticism for making the state the sole holdout in buying vaccines.

Key Facts

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told media outlets DeSantis’ decision was “an encouraging first step” after what she called “repeated failures” by the governor.

Florida missed Tuesday’s deadline to preorder vaccines, meaning shipments through the federal program likely will not arrive there until the end of the month.

DeSantis defended his decision not to preorder vaccines in a news conference on Thursday, saying his administration was “affirmatively against the Covid vaccine for young kids.”

In a statement Friday, DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin denied DeSantis was “reversing course,” saying the state never intended to buy shots during the preorder period.

McClatchy was first to report the news.

Key Background

After being vocally supportive of vaccinations during the initial rollout of shots in late 2020, DeSantis became one of the most prominent figures linked with vaccine skepticism. The governor was one of the first in the nation to ban vaccine mandates and refused to say whether he got a booster shot before his recent railings against shots for young children, falsely saying Thursday that young kids are at “zero risk of getting anything” and claiming Covid fears are stoked by media hysteria. DeSantis also appointed controversy-prone Dr. Joseph Ladapo as state surgeon general in September. Ladapo has compared the health benefits of vaccinations to eating fruits and vegetables, and announced in March the state was advising against giving Covid vaccines to healthy children. The FDA, CDC and nearly all top public health experts have stated Covid vaccines are safe and essential to ending the pandemic.

Surprising Fact

A poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation last month suggested most parents of kids under 5 are not eager to get their children vaccinated against Covid. Only 18% said they planned to get their children vaccinated right away, while 38% plan to “wait a while to see how the vaccine is working for others” and 27% said they definitely won’t have their kids vaccinated for Covid. Another 11% said they would only vaccinate their kids if it becomes a requirement.

Further Reading

DeSantis reverses, allowing Florida healthcare providers to order vaccines for kids (McClatchy)

DeSantis says Florida is ‘affirmatively against’ Covid-19 vaccines for young kids (Politico)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Refuses To Say Whether He’ll Get A Covid Vaccine Booster (Forbes)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Bans Vaccine Passports Amid GOP Pushback (Forbes)

Moderna And Pfizer Covid Vaccines For Young Children Endorsed By FDA Panel (Forbes)

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