Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds is blaming illegal immigration for recent measles outbreaks across the United States, rather than pointing to low vaccination rates among American children.
During an appearance Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan asked Donalds whether his message to Florida parents was to vaccinate their children against measles. Brennan noted that nearly all of Florida is below the 95% vaccination level generally associated with measles herd immunity.
Donalds answered, “No,” before saying that recent outbreaks were the result of what he called “rampant illegal immigration” under the previous administration.
Brennan then asked Donalds what evidence he had for that claim. He pointed to outbreaks in El Paso, Texas, and Southwest Florida and argued that people who entered the country illegally may not have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.
Donalds said controlling immigration should be a priority and later clarified that his position was that he wants legal immigration with assimilation.
The exchange comes as measles continues to spread in parts of the United States, putting renewed attention on vaccination rates and the risk of outbreaks in communities where vaccination coverage is below the level needed to limit transmission.
The discussion also comes as Donalds campaigns to become Florida’s next governor. During the same interview, he said he supports giving parents more control over vaccination decisions and said any changes involving Florida’s requirements for vaccines such as measles, mumps and rubella would need to be studied and discussed with the state Legislature.
Donalds’ comments have put two issues—vaccination and immigration—at the center of another political debate over how Florida should respond to measles outbreaks.
For Florida families, the conversation comes down to a much bigger public-health question: How should the state protect children as measles cases continue to be reported?
