Despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is again recommending against the mRNA vaccine: this time for the most vulnerable residents.
Updated guidance for healthcare providers The Florida Department of Health and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo questioned the drug’s safety and effectiveness in Thursday’s release. mRNA Covid vaccine Products from Pfizer and Moderna include those for older adults and people with underlying health conditions. According to the state guidance, “Any provider concerned about the health risks associated with Covid-19 in patients over 65 years of age or with underlying health conditions should prioritize patients for access to non-mRNA Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.”
stand in opposition Federal health agency recommendations The Florida Department of Health said the recommendation is based on high immunity to prior infection and “currently available data” after discussing the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine with other medical experts.
didn’t notice Older people at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection or hospitalizationthe guidance lists safety concerns about mRNA vaccines, including the risk of a rare heart disease called myocarditis, and POTS, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndromea debilitating heart disease.
Numerous studies have shown that Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are indeed associated with a small However, the risk of myocarditis is increased. However, most cases occur in young men, and most people make a full recovery. Research also shows that the risk of myocarditis is much higher after COVID-19 infection and is often more severe than vaccine-related illness.
a published study natural cardiovascular researchIt was also found that people diagnosed with COVID-19 were five times more likely to develop POTS after infection than after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, underscoring the importance of vaccines.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said the Florida Surgeon General’s guidance unnecessarily makes people wary of the coronavirus vaccine.
“The game he’s playing is so dangerous,” said Offit, who served on the FDA’s independent vaccine advisory committee. “People over 65 are about 1,000 times more likely to die[fromCOVID-19]than people under 18.”
“The mRNA vaccine is very safe,” he added.
New doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines Approved by the Food and Drug Administration August. Their goal is The constantly mutating virus version KP.2 Experts say it should provide good protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.
The United States only offers one Non-mRNA vaccine: Novavax. Novavax’s traditional protein vaccines offer an alternative vaccine technology to mRNA.
A Novavax spokesperson said in a statement that its updated vaccine is now available at thousands of retail and pharmacies across the country.
The Florida Department of Health did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert at the University of Toronto, called Florida’s recommendation “unfortunate” and said it could put older adults and people with underlying health conditions at risk.
“While vaccines are not as effective at preventing infection as they were before, there is very good data showing how COVID-19 vaccines can reduce the risk of severe viral symptoms in high-risk groups,” Bogucci said, without any ties to the vaccine manufacturers.
COVID-19 cases in the U.S. remain high after a summer wave. Wastewater data collected between August 25 and 31 showed that 23 states, including Florida, reported “very high” levels of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations remain also increasedalthough they are showing signs of decline. In Florida nursing homes, coronavirus infection rates are rising again after falling from summer highs, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Currently recommended This fall, everyone age 6 months and older will be able to get a newer COVID-19 vaccine from any of these three options.
This isn’t the first time Ladapo has ignored CDC guidance. Last year, Lada Po Also recommended Florida residents under the age of 65 cannot receive the mRNA Covid vaccine, citing widespread immunity and “questions we have about safety and effectiveness.”
“My judgment is that this is not a good decision for young people and people who are not at high risk in the current epidemic,” he said.
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