The Florida State Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, has raised concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, citing a significant increase in reports of adverse events, according to a Wednesday health alert.
The Surgeon General has urged health care providers and the public to remain vigilant and adapt to the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.
In Florida alone, there was a 1,700% increase in Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) reports after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, compared to an increase of 400% in overall vaccine administration for the same time period.
Of particular concern was the reporting of life-threatening conditions, which increased by over 4,400%.
These findings were not seen during the 2009 H1N1 vaccination campaign, and there is a need for additional unbiased research to better understand the COVID-19 vaccines’ short- and long-term effects.
The Surgeon General has written a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighting the risk factors associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and calling for greater transparency.
According to recent studies, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were associated with an excess risk of serious adverse events, including coagulation disorders, acute cardiac injuries, Bell’s palsy, and encephalitis.
The risk was found to be 1 in 550 individuals, which is much higher than for other vaccines.
Another study found increased acute cardiac arrests and other acute cardiac events following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
And yet another assessed the risk of thromboembolic and thrombocytopenic events related to COVID-19 vaccines and found preliminary evidence of an increased risk of both coronary disease and cardiovascular disease.
The CDC has identified safety signals for stroke among individuals 65 and older following the bivalent booster administration.
The Surgeon General stresses the need for additional assessments and research regarding the safety of all mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
