By Arthur Allen, Daniel Chang, and Sam Whitehead
September 23, 2024 / 5:00 AM EDT / KFF Health News
In a troubling trend of vaccine misinformation, the Florida health department is advising older residents and those at high risk for COVID-19 to avoid most booster shots, claiming they may be harmful. This statement has drawn criticism from clinicians and scientists, who label it as politically motivated fearmongering that undermines public health efforts.
A leading Florida physician expressed concern over the medical community’s hesitance to challenge the anti-vaccine rhetoric promoted by Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a DeSantis appointee. Ladapo's latest bulletin contains several inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims regarding the safety and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, suggesting they could compromise "the integrity of the human genome." Experts have noted that the guidance mirrors rhetoric found on anti-vaccine websites.
Ladapo did not respond to requests for comment. Governor Ron DeSantis has positioned himself against vaccine mandates and other pandemic-related health measures, contributing to a partisan divide over COVID vaccination. Surveys indicate that Republicans generally express less confidence in vaccine safety than Democrats.
Historically, state health leaders have not advised residents against FDA-approved vaccines. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, called this stance unprecedented.
Jeffrey Goldhagen, a pediatrician at the University of Florida, criticized Florida medical organizations for their silence on Ladapo’s messages, which he believes reflect a broader fear of political repercussions.
The Florida Health Care Association declined to comment on the bulletin, while LeadingAge Southeast acknowledged the importance of adhering to federal and state recommendations regarding COVID boosters.
Cherie Duvall-Jones, a spokesperson for the FDA, firmly disagreed with Ladapo’s characterization of the updated mRNA vaccines, stating they meet rigorous safety standards and urging the public to get boosted as immunity wanes.
Among the misleading claims in the Florida bulletin:
- Targeting Obsolete Variants: The bulletin wrongly asserts that new mRNA boosters target an outdated variant, Omicron. In reality, all major COVID variants in the past two years are derived from Omicron.
- Clinical Trials: While the mRNA boosters are not tested in large trials before each update, original formulations underwent extensive testing, and ongoing data supports their use.
- Health Risks: Assertions that the vaccines pose risks of autoimmune disease and infections lack support from the medical community.
- Spike Protein Concerns: Claims about elevated levels of spike proteins in the blood have been debunked.
- General Health Recommendations: While promoting exercise and nutrition is beneficial, these measures do not prevent COVID.
Ladapo's guidance urges Floridians to seek alternatives to mRNA vaccines without naming the only available non-mRNA option, from Novavax.
Critics suggest Ladapo's bulletin aligns with anti-vaccine sentiments prevalent in certain political circles, reminiscent of rhetoric from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration, which has downplayed vaccine importance despite overseeing their rapid development.
Cheryl Holder, an internist in Miami, noted that Ladapo's statements could dampen overall vaccination interest, leading to hesitancy regarding other important vaccines.
"We're in the disinformation age," Offit remarked, emphasizing the challenges posed by credentialed individuals spreading falsehoods about vaccines.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom dedicated to in-depth health journalism, part of KFF, an independent source for health policy research and information.
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