WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Florida Surgeon General's announcement that the State of Florida should end all childhood immunization safeguards is harmful and absurd.

For years, he and Governor DeSantis have pushed inaccurate and dangerous anti-vaccine policies that put Florida families and children at risk. Their false claims throughout the COVID-19 pandemic around a range of health policies failed Floridians and cost lives.

Last week, I called for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. due to his complete disregard for facts and basic science, outright destruction of lifesaving medical research and purge of America's leading health experts. The MAGA public health circus at the state and federal level must end now before lives are needlessly lost.

America is currently suffering one of the most significant measles outbreaks in decades. Congressional Republicans are rolling back access to health care and slashing funding for life-saving medical research. And so-called health "leaders" like Secretary Kennedy and Florida's Surgeon General are undermining years of progress and innovation.

I urge parents to follow the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and their trusted pediatrician, so that no one has to suffer from a serious or deadly illness. We know that vaccines work - for children and adults alike. I will fight to ensure that parents and families across America have access to accurate scientific and health information to keep them healthy and well.

Finally, I rebuke the Governor and Surgeon General for announcing this policy in the Tampa Bay area, which is one of America’s leading health innovation regions. Thanks to cutting-edge health research at the University of South Florida, the Moffitt Cancer Center and more, our community is developing modern treatments and cures while attracting top talent with good-paying jobs.  The backward and dangerous announcement is a setback to our dynamic region of innovation and investment, and to the incredibly dedicated people who work here, and must be rejected far and wide.