ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — U.S. well being companies have despatched a letter to Florida’s surgeon normal, 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 steering 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 pictures.
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 companies debunked the evaluation’ conclusion, saying that cardiovascular consultants who studied the priority had concluded that the danger of strokes and coronary heart assaults was decrease in individuals who had been vaccinated, not greater.
Greater than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given around the globe with little proof of hostile results, the federal well being companies mentioned.
“It’s the job of public well being officers across the nation to guard the lives of the populations they serve, significantly the susceptible. 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 did not reply to an electronic mail inquiry concerning the letter.