Vaccines protect public health
To the editor:
Dr. John Lapado and Ron Gov. DeSantis have issued a no vaccine mandate for entry-level school children in Florida. As a Registered Nurse I disagree with this decision. Vaccines as a topic can evoke strong feelings and different opinions or perspectives, especially as parents and grandparents. Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting children from serious diseases such as pertussis, polio, meningitis, measles, influenza and pneumonia.
In the Lee County, according to the public health web site today, June 23, there were: Influenza cases reported were 950 in one week in December; no diptheria cases; pneumonia is not tracked; no polio cases as of May 30; no meningitis cases (historically, four in Lee County and 78 at Ave Maria University); 118 cases of whooping cough; no mumps, tetanus is not tracked in Lee County: RSV is not tracked or reported in this report; and three cases of measles.
In the state of Florida 154 cases of measles were reported. This represents the highest number of measles infections the state has ever reported in a single year in the last 25 years.
Vaccines are the cornerstone of public health, not just for families but the visitors that come to Florida. The DeSantis move to remove the vaccine mandate does not protect the health of the community or especially our precious children.
Vote, vote, vote by mail. Get a new set of mandates for our public health through voting for political candidates that promote public health, welfare and health safety for the citizens of Lee County and especially the children and remove Dr. Lapardo from his position.
Kathleen Callard
North Fort Myers