In the wake of the CDC’s decision to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the recommended Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program (15-0 unanimous vote), Governor Ron DeSantis made himself very clear to Floridian parents as to where he stands on the issue.

“As long as I’m kicking and screaming, there will be no COVID shot mandates for your kids,” DeSantis said during a speech to announce an executive order to provide property tax relief for residents impacted by Hurricane Ian. “That is your decision to make as a parent.”

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“I get a kick out of it when people kind of compare it to (measles, mumps, and rubella shots) and things that have been around for decades and decades,” he said. “Parents, by and large, most parents in Florida have opted against doing these booster shots, particularly for young kids.”

“These are new shots,” he said, adding that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has not recommended the booster shots for children. “Basically, his reason for that is there’s not been a proven benefit for that.”