Presidentย Donald Trumpย is urging Republicans nationwide to move away from anti-vaccine messaging ahead of the Midterms. Still, in Florida, Gov.ย Ron DeSantisย is taking the opposite approach by advancing a high-profile vaccine exemption bill even as the state reports one of the nationโs highest measles case counts.
… Surveys from Trump pollsterย Tony Fabrizioย indicate that voters broadly oppose efforts to reduce the childhood vaccine schedule.ย
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National polling from Fabrizio shows … 86% of voters overall agree that vaccines save lives, and more than three in four say vaccines remain the best defense against infectious disease.
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But in Florida, DeSantis and First Ladyย Casey DeSantisย continue to champion what they describe as โmedical freedomโ policies, including broad expansions of non-medical vaccine exemptions. Surgeon Generalย Joseph Ladapoย has also remained a vocal critic of childhood vaccine requirements, even as the Florida Department of Health advances rules to repeal several immunizations currently required for public school attendance.
This push comes as the state faces one of the countryโs largest measles surges. According to the CDC, Florida now ranks third in the nation for measles cases, surpassing the stateโs total case count from the previous year.
