Natalie Acosta, 13, gets vaccinated at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Health officials in Nevada aren’t following the controversial lead taken this week by the state of Florida, which is recommending against the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy kids.
Florida announced its plans on Monday, with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaiming “for healthy kids, there is very little benefit for what the vaccine is doing.”
Nevada, where about 151,000 children ages 5-17 are fully vaccinated, and its health officials continue to say the best path forward in defending against the virus is through vaccination.
“The State of Nevada continues to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and encourages all families to get their questions answered and make a plan for all those eligible to be vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities,” the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement to the Sun.
The Florida decision runs counter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance recommending the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for ages youths ages 5-17 with a booster dose for those over age 12.
DeSantis, who is running for reelection and is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has risen to prominence in the GOP through his resistance to vaccine mandates and other public health guidance pushed by the federal government. It’s been met with criticism by health officials in Florida and nationally — and viewed by some as nothing more than a stunt to enhance his standing in the Republican Party.
“It’s deeply disturbing that there are politicians peddling conspiracy theories out there and casting doubt on vaccinations when it’s our best tool against the virus and the best tool to prevent even teenagers from being hospitalized,” said Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary for Democratic President Joe Biden.
Dr. David Di John, an associate professor of pediatrics at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, said he was a proponent of the vaccine for children. His child, Di John said, is vaccinated.
“I know the (COVID case) numbers are down, but we will see them rise again and the vaccine is the best way to protect against the illness,” Di John said.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a DeSantis appointee, said the state would formally recommend against COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children. Ladapo made the announcement at a roundtable event organized by DeSantis that featured a group of doctors who criticized coronavirus lockdowns and mandate policies.
Although children are generally less likely than adults to become severely ill with COVID-19, public health experts have stressed that vaccines further reduce their risk and help prevent them from infecting others.
Only 26.4% of the eligible 5 million children ages 5-11 nationally are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. In Nevada, it’s 15%.
“The Florida Department of Health is going to be the first state to officially recommend against the COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children,” Ladapo said at the end of the roundtable discussion.
The CDC says 970 children nationally have died from COVID. In Nevada, seven have died.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
