Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has called for pausing the administration of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the state, spurring condemnation from health experts and federal agencies. The controversial recommendation cites questionable safety concerns about the vaccines that regulators and scientists have disputed.
Surgeon General Cites Unfounded Cancer and DNA Risk Fears
In a letter sent January 2nd to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Dr. Ladapo argued that recent analysis suggests increased risks of cancer and DNA damage associated with mRNA COVID vaccines warrant halting their distribution.
Specifically, Dr. Ladapo claimed the vaccines may be associated with an increased risk of developing cancer within 2-5 years. He also suggested the vaccine mRNA could be “reverse transcribed into human DNA,” raising unfounded worries about gene alteration.
“There are also peer-reviewed articles raising the possibility of mRNA being reverse transcribed into human DNA, and preliminary evidence of mRNA integration has been reported in liver cells of patients,” the letter states.
However, top federal health officials and independent scientists have strongly disputed these assertions.
FDA, CDC Dismiss Safety Concerns as Unfounded
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promptly issued statements rejecting the safety fears raised by Dr. Ladapo as misleading and unfounded.
The FDA pointed to the “prolific misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines” that has circulated and emphasized that “currently authorized and approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.” Reviews of vaccine safety data have not substantiated any cancer or DNA alteration risks, regulators confirmed.
Similarly, the CDC stated: “There is no credible evidence available that supports the claims in the Florida Department of Health’s online posting.” The agency encouraged staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.
Independent scientists and doctors also denounced the assertions as false and recklessly counter to public health guidance.
“There’s just no evidence that supports anything close to this,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University. She called the claims “alarmist nonsense.”
Backlash Over “Dangerous” Misinformation from Surgeon General
Public health experts blasted Dr. Ladapo’s letter as spreading false information that could discourage vaccination and cost lives. His recommendations were deemed “dangerous,” “ignorant,” and defying scientific consensus.
Jorge Lopez, an infectious disease specialist at Ohio State University:
“Suggesting that vaccines are anything but extraordinarily protective, safe, and important is absolutely dangerous and ignores all credible science and medical best practices.”
There were also accusations that the move deliberately catered to an anti-vaccine political base, rather than being motivated by evidence:
Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at Yale:
“He is a Trump appointee playing to people’s fears with conspiracy theories rather than giving them life-saving information.”
Columnists emphasized these latest claims followed a pattern of what they called radical statements from Dr. Ladapo downplaying COVID-19 risks and treatments.
Potential Impacts on Florida and Broader Vaccination Efforts
It remains unclear to what extent the Florida Surgeon General has authority to halt distribution or administration of the vaccines within the state. The federal government retains centralized control over allocation decisions.
However, there are concerns Dr. Ladapo’s claims could still negatively impact COVID-19 booster uptake if they deter some people from getting shots. Some sources argued statements from a top state health official could carry significant influence.
This also sparks fears about knock-on effects in emboldening anti-vaccine activists nationwide to cite such assertions. Some health leaders emphasized this could undermine efforts to encourage staying up-to-date with recommended boosters.
William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University:
“It will create more vaccine hesitancy in Florida and beyond as vaccine opponents embrace this.”
Only time will tell how significantly this impacts public health policy or individual behaviors surrounding COVID vaccination.
What Happens Next?
Dr. Ladapo and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have stood by the calls for halting mRNA vaccine usage despite the widespread scientific rebuttals. It remains unclear whether the state administration will take any concrete policy actions to try to restrict access.
Federal agencies seem poised to strongly resist any formal efforts by Florida to curb vaccine availability within the state while reiterating that current evidence confirms their safety and efficacy.
But some health leaders worry about lasting erosion of trust in public health authorities should misleading theories propagate further online and through media. Time will tell what the broader implications are for COVID-19 vaccination rates and related restrictions.
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