Florida Surgeon General Urges Federal Aid for Vaccine Injured

Florida’s Health Official Calls for Greater Scrutiny of mRNA Vaccines

Florida’s top health official, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, has raised concerns about the safety and development of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, specifically those produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. In a recent statement, he described these vaccines as “not fit for human use” and called for increased federal support to address what he refers to as the “vaccine injured.”

Ladapo emphasized the need for more comprehensive research into long-term effects of the vaccines, particularly for individuals who have experienced adverse reactions. He urged the federal government and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand their studies on long COVID to include those affected by vaccine side effects.

“We need to study this better,” he said. “We need to fund physicians who are caring for these patients clinically and who are doing scientific work in this area.”

In addition to his calls for expanded research, Ladapo praised Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision in May to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedule for pregnant women and healthy children. However, it is worth noting that the guidance was later revised to allow the vaccine for children six months and older under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Ladapo also recommended that children avoid getting vaccinated in 2022. This guidance was based on research cited by four experts, but they later criticized him for taking their findings out of context. They accused him of “cherry picking” information to support his position.

His recommendations have drawn further scrutiny, especially regarding his 2024 advice to medical providers against administering updated mRNA vaccines. Experts have expressed concern over the lack of transparency and the potential impact on public health.

Concerns About Vaccine Development and Safety

During a speech at the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Tampa, Ladapo highlighted what he called a tragedy in the rapid development and rollout of the vaccines. He questioned how a vaccine could be distributed so widely without sufficient testing.

“When was the last time that you had a vaccine that literally almost every single person knows someone who’s had a bad reaction?” he asked.

The event also featured other speakers, including Pierre Cory, a physician whose certifications in critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine were revoked by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 2024. Cory had previously promoted the use of ivermectin, an antiparasitic medication, as a treatment for COVID-19.

Global Vaccination Efforts and Research Findings

According to data from the World Health Organization, approximately 13.7 billion COVID-19 shots have been administered worldwide, though not all were mRNA vaccines. In the United States, more than 80% of residents have received at least one dose.

A 2024 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviewed claims linking 19 health issues to mRNA vaccines. The report concluded that the vaccines can cause myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle and inflammation at the injection site. However, it did not find evidence supporting a direct link between the vaccines and conditions such as infertility, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or myocardial infarction.

Legal and Regulatory Scrutiny

In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis requested that the Florida Supreme Court assemble a grand jury to investigate wrongdoing linked to COVID-19 vaccines. While the grand jury did not find evidence to support criminal charges, its report was critical of the relationship between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna.

“The report stated that there are profound and serious issues involving the process of vaccine development and safety surveillance in the United States.”

These ongoing discussions highlight the complex landscape of vaccine safety, public health policy, and the need for continued research and transparent communication.