Answering a question at an unrelated press conference in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis said the state will not dedicate funding or resources to vaccinating children under 5 years old against COVID-19.
He told reporters toddlers “are at practically zero risk of anything with COVID”, so the state will not recommend that age group be vaccinated, according to The Hill.
“There is not going to be any state programs that are going to be trying to get COVID jabs to infants and toddlers and newborns,” DeSantis said, which drew cheers from the crowd.
DeSantis said the trial data was “abysmal” and that he felt the vaccines had not undergone enough testing to ensure its safety for use in very young children.
“Our Department of Health has been very clear, the risk outweighs the benefits and we recommend against it. That’s not the same as banning it. People can access it if they want to,” he said.
He also said parents shouldn’t worry about their young children becoming infected and blamed “media hysteria” for exaggerating the risks.
