Renowned infectious diseases expert Michael Osterholm on Wednesday warned of the potential fallout from Florida’s move to end all vaccine mandates in the state, most notably including shots for schoolchildren.
The Sunshine State may “become a hotbed of transmission” as a direct result, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
And, because of that, Osterholm said he “wouldn’t want my kids going to Florida in the years ahead, to go to Walt Disney World or any place like that.”
Infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm warns about the next major pandemic he calls "The Big One" and lays out the steps for how we can mitigate the next crisis. pic.twitter.com/8mbRnOSYVN — Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 4, 2025
Osterholm, whose new book “The Big One: Why Future Pandemics Will be Worse — and How We Must Prepare” is out next month, summarized public health amid President Donald Trump’s second term: “We’re right now in freefall in this country.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a noted vaccine skeptic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which falls under his leadership, has been hit by a raft of resignations and firings in recent days.
TV_Tray on September 4th, 2025 at 11:43 UTC »
This is yet one more reason to never set foot in Florida or support a Floridian business again. It's hard to say this because I am a native Floridian but the politicians and their lackeys are just dangerous and crazy. Adios Florida.
Orwells_Roses on September 4th, 2025 at 11:34 UTC »
Adding to the pile of reasons not to visit Florida. Republicans, hurricanes, alligators, ICE, and unchecked communicable diseases can have a chilling effect on tourism, so I'm told.
Are those guys still waving swastika flags outside of Disney?
TintedApostle on September 4th, 2025 at 11:16 UTC »
Take your kid the "magic" kingdom. Its a smallpox world.