Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is once again promoting misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines, urging residents to ignore the guidance of federal health officials. Despite recent polling showing him trailing behind Donald Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis has doubled down on his stance against COVID vaccines. He recently organized a panel of vaccine skeptics who advised against vaccination for those under 65, without providing any evidence to support their claims of potential harm.
DeSantis, in defiance of the FDA’s findings, stated, “I will not stand by and let the FDA and CDC use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots that have not been proven to be safe or effective.” His stance has been supported by his state’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, who has faced criticism for promoting misinformation about COVID and vaccines and altering study findings to fit his own narrative.
Public health officials have expressed concerns that DeSantis’ tactics will further discourage Americans from getting vaccinated. Currently, only 17% of eligible individuals have received the 2022 booster. Rejection of the vaccines poses significant risks, with studies showing that the risk of cardiac complications is significantly higher after COVID infection compared to vaccination.
DeSantis’ strategy has drawn condemnation from experts, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala. She stated, “DeSantis is playing with fire, and this is about life and death.”
It is important to note that several studies have shown the safety and effectiveness of COVID vaccines. More than 600 million doses have been administered in the U.S., with rare serious side effects reported. COVID vaccines have undergone clinical trials similar to those of the flu vaccine, which is not tested annually on humans. The panel assembled by DeSantis lacked vaccine and infectious disease experts and relied on their positions rather than scientific expertise to provide credibility to their claims.
While DeSantis continues to spread vaccine misinformation, it is crucial for individuals to rely on information from trusted sources such as the FDA, CDC, and reputable health organizations.
Sources:
– Source Article Title: Florida Gov. DeSantis Ignores Federal Health Officials, Again, And Promotes Vaccine Misinformation
– Source Article Author: Elizabeth Cohen
– Source Article Date: January 13, 2022
