Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is no stranger to challenges against the (too often scientifically questionable) impositions of federal authorities on vaccines. Not coincidentally, late last week, his administration issued covid vaccine recommendations that are in
contrast with those circulated by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
With an increase in Covid19 cases and in anticipation of the winter season, the CDC has in fact recommended that every person 6 months of age and older be vaccinated, explaining how the new vaccine (just approved a week ago by the FDA for “emergency use”) is effective against most of the variants.
But, disagreeing with the CDC, the governor sees the benefit of vaccination only for the population over age 65; therefore, he does not recommend the use of boosters or vaccines for the younger population.
“Vaccination remains the best protection against hospitalizations and deaths due to covid19. – said Dr.Mandy Cohen, director of CDC- Vaccination also reduces the likelihood of having to suffer any symptoms that covid19 might cause.”
But Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s chief health officer, quickly retorted, ” With the natural immunity possessed by every human being and the many questions still unanswered about the real efficacy and, more importantly, the safety of these vaccines, I am of the opinion that it is not a wise to vaccinate the young and non-risk population!”
However, the Florida governor’s stance continues to be criticized and called “baseless and dangerous” by the CDC and the White House, who point to the lives saved in the past by the vaccine and the federal program supporting it.
It must be said that Gov.DeSantis has always acknowledged the benefit of the vaccine at the outbreak of the pandemic and the very high number of lives saved by its use; he has, however, always criticized the “blanket” administration of covid19 vaccines to younger populations that are less exposed to some serious health risk. It is, moreover, well known that the use of covid19 vaccines has been associated with an elevated risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) in younger people.
As for the FDA’s approval of the new “booster” for the Covid19 vaccine, Ladapo argues that it was granted in the absence of an appropriate and specific clinical trial; thus, in essence, Governor DeSantis has questioned the credibility of many federal institutions (from the CDC to the FDA) and of the entire Biden administration.
On the opposite side from DeSantis stands Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York; despite the fact that Covid19 cases in the state are only 2 cases per day per 100,000 population and despite a benign evolution of these cases, Hochul has sounded the alarm and her administration recommends vaccination to everyone (6 months and older), as soon as possible and without exception.
In touting the booster, Hochul even went so far as to say that it is actually a new vaccine; “This is a new vaccine! – she said-it’s not a booster, but a real new vaccine designed against new variants.” Pfizer, which is historically at home in New York, thanks!
On this topic, NBC interviewed Dr.Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; the expert downplayed the benefit of the “booster,” saying, “With this booster you might get a few months of protection against a disease that is not very dangerous; therefore, young people, who have been vaccinated at one time or have already contracted the virus in the past, should already be well protected by covid19.”
Dr. Dan Barouch, Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston, recoiled, saying, “Immunity from the covid19 booster disappears after about 5 months , while immunity from infection lasts for at least a full year; therefore, the benefits of the booster are most significant in the population that is most at risk of serious complications.”
In England and Australia, governments have decided to offer the booster only to people over 65 and younger who may be considered vulnerable and at higher risk of complications.
In Italy, the Board of the “Calendar for Life” has issued its recommendations; the Board is made up of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, the Italian Society of Pediatrics, the Italian Federation of General Practitioners, etc.
In accordance with the Ministerial Circular of August 14, 2023, the Board “recommends the administration of the vaccine to the entire population over the age of 60 years and to individuals with cornical diseases or immuno-compromises that involve an increased risk of severe disease.”
