DeSantis Re-Ups His Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Conspiracies

CONCORD, NH — Ahead of Ron DeSantis’ town hall in New Hampshire, NHDP spokesperson Aida Ross released the following statement:

“As governor, Ron DeSantis has used his power to push dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, sowing distrust in lifesaving medical treatments while COVID deaths skyrocketed in Florida. DeSantis is just repeating his same dangerous political games with people’s lives in New Hampshire today.”

Take a look at DeSantis’ dangerous anti-vaccine record:

• DeSantis appointed anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Dr. Joseph Ladapo as surgeon general of Florida and said he would appoint him U.S. surgeon general if elected president.

  • Ladapo spread dangerous misinformation regarding COVID vaccines and manipulated data to make the vaccines appear more dangerous than they were.

  • Ladapo stood shoulder to shoulder with the right-wing group America’s Frontline Doctors to falsely promote zinc and hydroxychloroquine as cures for COVID.

• DeSantis has been instrumental in pushing vaccine skepticism in Florida, leading to low vaccination and high death rates:

  • Florida’s COVID death rate has worsened since the arrival of vaccines.

  • Florida’s seniors fell behind nationally in COVID booster rates and died from COVID at a higher rate than did seniors in other states.

  • DeSantis made it harder for Floridians to vaccinate their children, which hurt poor families most. Now, fewer young children in Florida are receiving vaccinations of any kind.

• DeSantis said that as president, he would defund COVID booster programs.

• Over and over, DeSantis has played politics with lifesaving vaccines, denying their efficacy and consulting with conspiracy theorists rather than scientific experts.