Lexington public health official says he hopes Kentucky doesn't follow Florida's lead on childhood vaccines

Dr. Steve Davis worked for the state Department of Public Health for 18 years, retiring as interim commissioner. He’s now the medical director of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. He said when he learned of the decision by Florida leaders to do away with childhood vaccine mandates for several diseases, he messaged several Kentucky healthcare leaders.
“Basically, I said, after hearing the announcement in Florida, quite frankly, I think some puppet doctor or doctor should lose their medical license, and some politicians should be impeached.”
WEKU was unable to arrange an interview with state lawmakers who chair committees that would likely hear such bills or officials with the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Last week, Governor Beshear said the decision by Florida’s governor and surgeon general could allow once-eradicated diseases to return.
Davis called the decision by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his surgeon general, who compared childhood vaccine mandates to slavery, “crazy.” He said its effects likely won’t be limited to the Sunshine State.
“This could spread nationwide. I mean, because, you know, today, with movement of people through jobs and what have you, we're very likely to have children in Kentucky and other states who end up unvaccinated.”
Kentucky allows childhood vaccine exemptions for reasons of faith and some medical conditions. State data for last school year shows 82% of kindergarteners had all the required vaccines – compared to 92% nationally. A World Health Organization study published last year found 154 million lives were saved by vaccines in the previous 50 years – 94 million through measles vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, polio vaccines have prevented about 20 million cases of paralysis in children since 1988.