The Florida Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, drew criticism last year after cautioning young men against getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It was revealed that an analysis used to support this recommendation omitted crucial information showing that catching COVID-19 could increase the risk of a cardiac-related death much more than getting the vaccine. The Tampa Bay Times obtained early drafts of the analysis that showed this information was missing from the final version put out by the Florida Department of Health in October 2021.
The nonbinding recommendation made by Ladapo last fall contradicted the advice provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of men aged 18 to 39 having cardiac complications was said to outweigh the benefits of getting the mRNA vaccine. However, an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida pointed out that the analysis omitted certain sections that did not fit the narrative Ladapo wanted to push. The vaccine has advanced the health of people in Florida, and the surgeon general is encouraging people to mistrust it.
Last year, Ladapo released guidance that went against federal public health leaders’ advice, recommending against vaccinations for healthy children. The American Academy of Pediatrics and its Florida chapter issued written statements reiterating support for vaccinating eligible children aged five and older against COVID-19 in response.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considering a run for the GOP presidential nomination, has requested that a grand jury be convened to investigate any wrongdoing with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines. DeSantis’ request argues that pharmaceutical companies had a financial interest in creating a climate in which people believed that getting a coronavirus vaccine would ensure they couldn’t spread the virus to others. The Florida Supreme Court agreed to the request last December.
Ladapo’s position on COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks, as well as other health policies endorsed by the federal government, has been met with intense scrutiny. The omission of crucial information from the analysis used to support his recommendation against the COVID-19 vaccine is a grave violation of research integrity, according to the infectious disease epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been instrumental in advancing the health of people in Florida, and the omission of vital information only serves to promote misinformation and mistrust of the vaccine. As COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to public health, it is essential to rely on accurate information and to encourage vaccination to keep communities safe.
In response to the article from the Tampa Bay Times revealing that a nonbinding recommendation made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo last year cautioning young men against getting the COVID-19 vaccine omitted crucial information regarding the risk of cardiac-related death from catching the virus, many public health experts have criticized the move as reckless and unscientific.
The initial drafts of the analysis obtained by the Times showed that catching COVID-19 could increase the chances of a cardiac-related death much more than getting the vaccine, but that information was missing from the final version put out by the Florida Department of Health in October 2021. Ladapo said that the risk of men aged 18 to 39 having cardiac complications outweighed the benefits of getting the mRNA vaccine, which is a stance that runs counter to the advice provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Matt Hitchings, an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, told the Times that it seems sections of the analysis were omitted because they did not fit the narrative the surgeon general wanted to push. Hitchings went on to describe this as “a grave violation of research integrity” and criticized Ladapo for encouraging people to mistrust the vaccine, which he said has done a lot to advance the health of people in Florida.
Ladapo has faced intense scrutiny over his shared resistance with the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, to COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks, as well as other health policies endorsed by the federal government. Last year, Ladapo released guidance recommending against vaccinations for healthy children, contradicting federal public health leaders whose advice says all kids should get the shots. In response, the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Florida chapter issued written statements reiterating support for vaccinating eligible children aged five and older against COVID-19.
DeSantis, who is considering a run for the GOP presidential nomination, has requested that a grand jury be convened to investigate any wrongdoing with respect to the COVID-19 vaccines. His request argues that pharmaceutical companies had a financial interest in creating a climate in which people believed that getting a coronavirus vaccine would ensure they could not spread the virus to others. The Florida Supreme Court agreed to the request in December 2021.
The revelations about Ladapo’s recommendation and the omissions in the analysis have sparked concern from other health experts, who worry that misinformation and confusion about the vaccine could lead to more cases of COVID-19 and potentially put people’s lives at risk.
As of April 2022, Florida remains one of the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country, with over 9 million cases and nearly 200,000 deaths reported since the start of the pandemic. The state has faced criticism for its handling of the pandemic, including its slow vaccination rollout and resistance to vaccine mandates and other public health measures.
Despite the controversy surrounding Ladapo’s recommendation and the omissions in the analysis, public health experts and officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination remains the best defense against the virus and its potentially deadly effects, and getting vaccinated can help protect not only individuals but also their families, communities, and the broader public. As the pandemic continues to evolve, it is more important than ever to rely on accurate, evidence-based information and advice from trusted sources.
