(OPINION) On October 7, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued guidance for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, stating that with “a high level of global immunity to COVID-19, the benefit of vaccination is likely outweighed by this abnormally high risk of cardiac-related death among men” in the 18-39 age group.

The guidance cited analysis that showed an 84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related deaths in this demographic within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. On Monday, elements of the federal health establishment responded, rejecting Ladapo’s guidance and restating their advocacy for Americans of all ages to get vaccinated.

The guidance issued last week by the Florida surgeon general referred to a self-controlled case series wherein “only individuals who have experienced an event are included and all time-invariant confounding is eliminated.”



The analysis found a significant increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. Men over 60 were reportedly found to have a 10% increased risk of cardiac-related death within the same time frame.

The guidance also noted that non-mRNA vaccines “were not found to have these increased risks among any population.” Ladapo, who previously suggested that healthy young children should not receive the experimental COVID-19 vaccine, recommended that those with preexisting heart conditions, such as myocarditis and pericarditis “should take particular caution when considering vaccination.”

On Friday, Ladapo tweeted these findings along with his recommendation. Twitter, however, promptly blocked the post. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) press secretary, Bryan Griffin, called the censorship “an unacceptable and Orwellian move for narrative over fact.” READ MORE