The Florida State Surgeon General released new guidance on September 13, 2023, regarding the recently approved COVID-19 booster vaccines. The Florida Department of Health expects healthcare providers to discuss the information in this guidance with patients when considering mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
According to the guidance, due to high global immunity rates and available data for people under 65 years old, the Surgeon General recommends against receiving the COVID-19 booster vaccine for this age group. For those aged 65 and older, it is advised that they consult their healthcare provider and address concerns outlined in the department’s published recommendations.
The guidance highlights several safety and efficacy concerns:
- Studies from different parts of the world have shown that COVID-19 vaccines are associated with negative effectiveness after four to six months. As effectiveness declines, individuals may face a higher risk of infection. This trend has not been observed with other vaccines, such as the influenza vaccine.
- mRNA COVID-19 vaccines present a risk of both clinical and subclinical myocarditis and other cardiovascular conditions among healthy individuals.
- The risk of adverse effects with each additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine remains unknown. Some people may have received between five and seven doses over three years.
- Elevated levels of spike protein from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can persist in some individuals for an indefinite period, which could pose health risks.
"Una vez más, el gobierno federal está fallando a los estadounidenses al negarse a ser honestos sobre los riesgos y no proporcionar suficiente evidencia clínica cuando se trata de estas vacunas de ARNm COVID-19, especialmente con lo extendida que esta la inmunidad ahora," said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. "En Florida, siempre usaremos sentido común y protegeremos los derechos y libertades de los floridanos, incluyendo el derecho a información precisa."
The full guidance for COVID-19 booster vaccines is available online in Spanish.
The Florida Department of Health is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and works to protect, promote, and improve health across Florida through coordinated efforts at state, county, and community levels. More information can be found at www.FloridaHealth.gov.
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