DeSantis & Surgeon General Announce End to School Vaccine Requirements

Summary

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Verdict with Ted Cruz

Episode: “DeSantis & Surgeon General Announce End to School Vaccine Requirements”

Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (substitute host; Ted Cruz not present)
Guest: Dr. Chris Purnell

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Episode Overview

This episode tackles the major announcement from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s Surgeon General: the end to school vaccine requirements. The hosts examine what this move means for parental rights, public health, and the ongoing debate over COVID-19 policies. The conversation is framed as a clash between state authority and federal mandates, as well as a reflection of persistent distrust toward the CDC and mainstream health organizations over pandemic-era guidance.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Florida’s Decision: Parental Choice vs. Public Health Mandates

• Florida’s new policy: Public schools will no longer mandate vaccines, shifting the authority over such decisions from the government to parents.
  • “It is not in Florida … a ban on vaccines. What Florida has now done is said parents could decide, not the government.” — Ben Ferguson [05:15]
• Historical context: Florida would become the first state to withdraw mandatory vaccination requirements entirely, marking a major shift in U.S. public health norms.
• Legal complexities: Mandates enshrined in state law (e.g., polio, measles) would require legislative repeal. Department of Health can rescind only administratively issued mandates.

2. Backlash from Medical Community and Democrats

• AMA response: The American Medical Association warns this move could “undermine decades of public health progress and dramatically increase the risk of serious illness.” — [06:36]
• Infectious disease concerns: Experts predict likely outbreaks of preventable diseases (measles, polio) in schools and vulnerable populations.
  • “Florida Democrats echoed these concerns... Another state senator emphasizes diseases like polio could return. And that would be horrific for Florida.” — Ben Ferguson [07:30]

3. Erosion of Trust in the CDC

• Why public trust is low: The hosts blame perceived government dishonesty during the pandemic for current skepticism about vaccines and the CDC.
  • “If you guys at the CDC and in the medical community wouldn't have lied about the COVID vaccine and its effectiveness... then we might actually believe you on issues moving forward.” — Ben Ferguson [07:11]
• Cause and Effect: The episode repeatedly links the CDC’s shifting COVID guidelines (on vaccines, masks, and distancing) to current resistance to mandates.

4. Heated Exchange: Dr. Purnell vs. Ferguson on Vaccine Data

• Dr. Purnell’s defense:
  • “Since the last 30 [years], we've saved over 150 million lives because of vaccines globally… We've prevented 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations. That's not anything to wink at.” — Dr. Chris Purnell [09:36]
  • “As if we are a runaway train in public health. We talk about the cliff of good health, and we have fallen completely off of the cliff.” — Dr. Chris Purnell [10:03]
• Ferguson questions CDC credibility:
  • “They lied about masks in schools.” — Ben Ferguson [11:12]
  • Dr. Purnell pushes back: “Not true.”
  • Ferguson counters: “Did they not lie about the effectiveness of a mask...?” [11:16]
  • Ben concedes that higher quality masks work, but criticizes communication.
• Dispute over vaccine and mask data: Tension escalates as both question each others’ interpretations and data sources. Ferguson maintains public distrust is justified.

5. Misinformation, Science, and Public Perception

• The conversation highlights confusion and polarization around “trusting the science” versus skepticism about official guidance.
  • “This is why Florida did this... American people don't trust this.” — Dr. Chris Purnell [12:38]
  • “The American publicists don't trust the CDC. They do not. Because people like RFK Jr and others got the job.” — Ben Ferguson [12:47]
• Accusations fly regarding Florida’s Surgeon General’s handling of COVID safety studies and alleged promotion of ineffective treatments.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Florida now... plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those required for children attending public schools… [It’s] parental choice, bodily autonomy, and medical freedom.”
— Ben Ferguson [05:25]

“Since 1994, we've prevented 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations. That’s hardcore data… What’s happening in the United States is as if we are a runaway train in public health.”
— Dr. Chris Purnell [09:37, 10:04]

“If you guys at the CDC and in the medical community wouldn’t have lied about the COVID vaccine and its effectiveness or... any of the issues you lied... we might actually believe you... But the reality is Americans don't.”
— Ben Ferguson [07:11]

“If the doctors are angry that they say the science is overwhelming... then they should actually talk to their patients about it with compassion and understanding instead of the arrogance you just heard right there from that doctor.”
— Ben Ferguson [14:20]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:15] — Ferguson introduces the Florida policy change: parental decision versus government mandate.
• [06:36] — Medical and political backlash: AMA warnings, Democratic concerns.
• [09:36] — Dr. Purnell cites vaccination’s global and national health impact.
• [10:03] — Dr. Purnell: “Runaway train in public health.”
• [11:12-12:02] — Debate on CDC guidance, mask efficacy, and public trust.
• [12:38] — Dr. Purnell on American skepticism.
• [14:20] — Ferguson’s final comment on trust and medical professionals.

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In Summary

The episode uses Florida’s dramatic policy change as a springboard to discuss wider public dissatisfaction with the CDC and skepticism toward vaccine mandates. The lively exchange between Ben Ferguson and Dr. Chris Purnell illustrates deep divides over public health, science, and parental rights. Ferguson repeatedly frames the Florida move as a logical reaction to “COVID era lies,” while Dr. Purnell stresses the irreplaceable lifesaving impact of vaccines and worries about the potential fallout for children.

The tone throughout is combative, passionate, and emblematic of the national debate on vaccine mandates, medical authority, and individual rights.

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Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

In just three years, she went from stay at home mom to traveling the world, saving lives and making millions. Anyone would think Candace's charmed life is about as real as unicorns. But sometimes the truth is even harder to believe than the lies.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

Not true.

[Ben Ferguson]

There are so many things not true. You gotta believe me. I'm Charli Webster and this is Unicorn Girl, an Apple original podcast produced by Seven Hills. Follow and listen on Apple Football Podcast.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

You want smart political talk without the meltdowns? We got you. I'm Carol Markowitz. And I'm Mary Kathryn Ham. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently. Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

To be funny, grounded, and no panic.

[Ben Ferguson]

We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

Yeah, I do. I think the Republicans will vote for an extension. We won't have any Democrat votes. We could give the greatest budget ever, a tax cut of 50%. Everybody taken care of? Perfect for women, perfect for men, perfect for minorities, perfect for everything. And we would get one vote for the Democrats because they've lost their minds. You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Thursday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got one very big and important story for you. It deals with vaccines and parental rights being restored in Florida. The left and the media losing their minds, including many doctors who are furious that the state there is getting rid of vaccine mandates, including for your kids to go to school. So why are they so angry? We'll explain it. And many of the thoughts that I had about this I got to say on cnn, you do not want to miss it. But first, let me tell you about Crockett Coffee. 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And if you're interested in mushroom coffee and the positive benefits of come with enjoying that each day, Crockett Coffee is now producing that as well. They've got dark roast, mild roast, a light roast, even a decaf version and a mushroom organic blend. You choose what you like and I'm going to save you money. To try Crockett Coffee right now you can go online to crocketcoffee.com use my name Ben. You're going to get 20% off your first order and then you're going to be hooked. That's Crockett Coffee.com use my name Ben as your promo code. 20% off. Something else I love about Crockett Coffee is not just the amazing coffee you get, but a portion of your purchase will go to support Tunnel to Towers foundation because the good people at Crockett Coffee also pledge to never forget. So go to crockettcoffee.com use my name Ben. Get 20% off your first order and get the Best cup of coffee you've ever had each and every day. It's the 47 Morning Update, and it starts right now. Story number one, cause and effect is something that happens all the time. Well, there was a major cause and effect when it came to COVID 19 and the lies that were told to the American people about that vaccine and so many of the regulations and rules that put us in a lockdown for far too long. What happened? There's a lot of people now asking more questions than ever about the CDC and not trusting the cdc, not trusting them on vaccines. It also brought up an even bigger point. Should the government be able to mandate what vaccines you have to have for your kids? Well, Florida, they said they believe that parents should have the rights over their children, not the federal government, when it comes to vaccines. Let me be clear about what happened in Florida. It is not in Florida, and this is very important, a ban on vaccines. What Florida has now done is said parents could decide, not the government. And that brings us to the big headline. Liberals are losing their minds because they want the government to be able to dictate to you what you have to do for your children. Florida now we know plans to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including those required for children attending public schools. The announcement came from the Surgeon General of Florida and was made during a press conference alongside Governor Ron DeSantis. Now, the surgeon General described the mandates as oppressive and even likened them to slavery and framed the repeal as a matter of parental choice, bodily autonomy, and medical freedom. Florida, by the way, would become the first US State to withdraw mandatory vaccination requirements entirely, marking a significant shift from decades of public health policy. Now, while the Department of Health can rescind mandates it issued administratively, any vaccine required requirements established by law, such as those for polio, measles, and mumps, you know, and tetanus, for example, will require legislative action to, quote, unquote, repeal. Well, the liberals, their minds exploded over this as well as many in the medical field. The American Medical association say that the repeal would, quote, undermine decades of public health progress and dramatically increase the risk of serious illness. Well, guess what? If you guys at the CDC and in the medical community wouldn't have lied about the COVID vaccine and its effectiveness or the spread or masking or staying six feet apart or shutting down the schools or any of the issues you lied to us about with COVID then we might actually believe you on issues moving forward. But the reality is Americans don't. Infectious disease leaders also came out warning of likely outbreaks of preventable Diseases like measles and polio, especially in schools and vulnerable populations. Florida Democrats echoed these concerns with Senator Jones calling it a grave public health risk. Another state senator emphasizes disease like polio could return. And that would be horrific for Florida. Now, I went on CNN News Night with Abby Phillips. It was the lead story. And I want you to hear how the media is now attacking Donald Trump for this, saying that he's going to have kids die because of a policy that's been enacted in Florida. Yes, they want to fear monger you and control you yet again. Listen carefully.

[Ben Ferguson]

Joining the conversation for this one is Dr. Chris Purnell. She's the director of the NAACP center for Health Equity and Public Health and Preventative medicine. Physician. And Dr. Purnell, you know this well. In 2013, cases of measles. 2025, 1400, a huge increase in whooping cough. Whooping cough in this country. And at the same time, the rates of vaccine exemptions have gone up by about a point since 2019. None of this is by accident. None of this is by osmosis. And now this in Florida. Reckless, if I could sum it up in one word. Let's just go to some facts, and I have them here to keep myself honest. Since the last 30, we've saved over 150 million lives because of vaccines globally. If we begin to think about in the United States, We've saved over 1.1 million children due to vaccinations since 1994, we've prevented 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations. That's not anything to wink at. That's hardcore data. But what's happening in the United States is as if we are a runaway train in public health. We talk about the cliff of good health, and we have fallen completely off of the cliff. That's kind of what it feels like in a way, Ben, that everybody sitting at this table, all the folks in Florida, all of these people who are vaccine skeptics now, have benefited from vaccines, allowing them to live their lives without polio, without measles. And now all of a sudden, they want to pull the rug out from underneath children. I'm surprised by it. I mean, you have k A lot of us do at this table. If you lived in Florida, what, what.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

Would you be thinking? Two things. One, they're. They're not outlawed. That's good. The parents are going to decide. Two, there's a cause and effect. And the CDC lied to us about COVID and they lied a lot. They lied about masks in school.

[Ben Ferguson]

Not true.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

They Lied about distancing. They lied about the efficiency or the effectiveness of the COVID 19 vaccine.

[Ben Ferguson]

Not true.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

It is true. They said that distancing. Hold on. Wait, did they. Did they not lie about the effectiveness of a mask when internal vaccines.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yes. If you talk about certain typ. If we're looking at high quality mass. If we're looking at high quality mass. Right. So P95 masks. I would love to prevent infections because look, this is the way science works. Science works that as you get data, the type of communication that you give. I actually think it's important. It's very important. If you're saying things that are not accurate, I do think it's fair for her to counter.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

CDC said that masking was effective and worked when they knew internal documents said it does. And the emails came out that it didn't work.

[Ben Ferguson]

Okay, well, what does six foot distances, the CC say? Hold on. Misinformation, folks. You're seeing it in action. First of all, they said it was going to stop. Misinformation. Are you going to have a conversation or are you just going to keep talking? Look, hold on. Okay. First of all, what she is disputing is your language around this, which is that they lied, which is. Yes, exactly. Which she's saying. And I think she's right about. This is not true. There are certain types of masks that work better than others. We've been using masks for decades. The whole point of science, I mean, this is.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

This is why Florida did. This is what you guys don't understand. There's a cause and effect. The American people don't trust this.

[Ben Ferguson]

Hold on. Ask why Florida?

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

For the reasons I said. You may not like that. You may not like.

[Ben Ferguson]

The American publicists don't trust the CDC. They do not. Because people like RFK Jr and others got the job. He's going to trust. Hold on a second. Okay, Ben, just give me one second, okay? This Florida surgeon General has been railing against vaccines for a while, but he's also responsible for a lot of misinformation. He's altered key findings in a COVID 19 vaccine safety study. Malpractice. He pushed things like cures like ivermectin and others for Covid.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

Doesmectin not work?

[Ben Ferguson]

No.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

Do you have data that shows that it did work?

[Ben Ferguson]

No. He is pushing all of those data that it does not work effectively. Okay, Ben, are you really gonna argue with the doctor at the TI about.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

You guys screwed us and we failed miserably? You lied about it. Isn't it amazing how they're so angry that you have parents that are going to have the right to make a decision for their children what is best for them. They cannot stand that the government can't dictate to the people, at least in Florida, on the issue of vaccines. They cannot stand to admit that the reason why this happened, the reason why RFK juniors in the government, is because the cause and effect of the CDC lying pathologically to the American people every step of the way on the issue of COVID 19 and the effectiveness of vaccines and masking and all the other things that I just mentioned. And they're mad that this is happening in Florida. Now look, I think the people in Fortick should be trusted. I think the people in Fortick should have the right to do what's best for their children. And if the doctors are angry that they say the science is overwhelming, that these vaccine mandates should be a thing, well then they should actually talk to their patients about it with compassion and understanding instead of the arrogance that you just heard right there from that doctor, condescending and frustrated of anybody that would ever question her as a quote. Doctor, you heard it. And it's amazing that we're still even having the conversation after what we witnessed during COVID Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow. Oral health goes beyond just aesthetics. It's deeply connected to your general health and well being. That's why preventing oral health problems before they start is so important. When you use the Colgate Total Active Prevention System, you're not just helping to prevent oral health problems like cavities and gingivitis. You're laying the groundwork for overall wellness. Colgate Total's three product routine includes a reformulated toothpaste, an innovative toothbrush, and a refreshing antibacterial mouthwash that all support a healthy mouth. In fact, the three products were designed to work together to be 15 times more effective at reducing bacteria buildup in six weeks starting from week one compared to a non antibacterial fluoride toothpaste and flat trim toothbrush. Take control of your oral health and get the Colgate Total Active Prevention System today so you can be dentist ready. Visit shop.colgate.com Total Song stands about an obsessed fan who's taken me too literal.

[Ben Ferguson]

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[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Dr. Chris Purnell]

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[Ben Ferguson]

You want smart political talk without the meltdowns. We got you. And I'm Carol Marco. And I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently. Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try.

[Dr. Chris Purnell]

To be funny, grounded, and no panic.

[Ben Ferguson]

We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.