Florida surgeon general under US agencies fire over vaccine concerns

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Mar 11:07

Federal health officials argue that more than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered worldwide with minimal evidence of harmful effects.

Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks with reporters after the Florida Senate confirmed his appointment as the state's surgeon general on Feb. 23, 2022 (AP)

US health organizations have warned Florida's surgeon general that his comments concerning COVID-19 vaccine risks are hazardous to the public.

The letter was delivered to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Friday by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was in response to a letter Ladapo had sent to the agencies last month, in which he expressed concerns over what he called harmful consequences from mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ladapo was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 and has drawn national attention for his strong agreement with the governor in opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other federal health regulations.

Last year, Ladapo issued instructions advocating against COVID-19 immunizations for healthy youngsters, contradicting federal public health officials who advise that all children receive the doses.

He has also advised men aged 18 to 39 not to acquire the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations, citing a Florida Department of Health study that found an 84% increase in cardiac-related mortality.

The government authorities refuted the analysis' result in their letter, claiming that cardiovascular experts who investigated the issue had found that the risk of strokes and heart attacks was lower, not higher, in persons who had been vaccinated.

Federal health officials stated that more than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered worldwide with minimal evidence of harmful effects.

It is worth noting that the letter signed by FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky tersely stated, “It is the job of public health officials around the country to protect the lives of the populations they serve, particularly the vulnerable. Fueling vaccine hesitancy undermines this effort."