US businesses debunk Florida surgeon common’s vaccine claims

ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. well being businesses have despatched a letter to Florida’s surgeon common, warning him that his claims about COVID-19 dangers are dangerous to the general public.

The letter from the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention was despatched Friday to Florida Surgeon Common Joseph Ladapo.

Ladapo was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 and has attracted nationwide scrutiny over his shut alignment with the governor in opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and different well being insurance policies embraced by the federal authorities.

Ladapo final 12 months launched steerage recommending in opposition to COVID-19 vaccinations for wholesome kids, contradicting federal public well being leaders whose recommendation says all children ought to get the photographs.

He additionally has really helpful in opposition to males ages 18 to 39 getting the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that an evaluation by the Florida Division of Well being confirmed an 84% enhance in cardiac-related deaths.

Of their letter, the federal businesses debunked the evaluation’ conclusion, saying that cardiovascular consultants who studied the priority had concluded that the chance of strokes and coronary heart assaults was decrease in individuals who had been vaccinated, not larger.

Greater than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given all over the world with little proof of adversarial results, the federal well being businesses mentioned.

“It’s the job of public well being officers across the nation to guard the lives of the populations they serve, notably the weak. Fueling vaccine hesitancy undermines this effort,” mentioned the letter signed by FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

The Florida Division of Well being on Saturday didn’t reply to an e mail inquiry concerning the letter.