Florida Surgeon General Calls for More Research on Long COVID and mRNA Vaccines
On Thursday morning in Tampa, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo spoke about the updated federal guidelines on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. He also emphasized the need for greater research into what’s known as “long COVID.”
Long COVID describes a variety of symptoms that can linger for extended periods—weeks, months, or even years—following an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when someone tests negative. Interestingly, there’s a debate where some claim these ongoing issues may actually stem from mRNA vaccine injuries.
Dr. Ladapo didn’t hold back in praising Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his recent comments advising against mRNA vaccines for healthy children, pregnant women, and similar groups. He mentioned that he made similar recommendations three years ago in South Florida, which he found gratifying to see echoed at the federal level.
However, Ladapo firmly believes that mRNA vaccines are not fit for human use.
“They shouldn’t take them. They are products that should not be going into human beings,” he insisted.
He went on to express concern over the widespread reports of adverse reactions to these vaccines. “When was the last time that you had a vaccine that literally almost every single person knows someone who had a bad reaction from it? Since I became a physician in 2011, I’ve treated countless patients. Before this pandemic, I could hardly recall anyone I knew who was affected negatively by a vaccine. Now, it’s uncommon to meet someone who either hasn’t experienced a bad reaction to an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or doesn’t know someone who has. They’re terrible vaccines,” Ladapo continued.
He suggested that the lack of open discussion regarding these vaccines might stem from the perception that President Donald Trump played a significant role in their development and rollout.
“I want to make it very clear. President Donald Trump, last I checked, he didn’t go to medical school. OK. He doesn’t have a PhD in epidemiology, virology, or immunology. His role was to lead the nation, and he did the best he could with the information he possessed,” Ladapo explained, implying that Trump likely wouldn’t have been aware of the potential complications that might arise.
Dr. Ladapo also advocated for enhanced funding and research initiatives to better understand the long-term impacts associated with mRNA vaccines.
“Today, I want to call on the federal government, NIH to expand the work that they are doing in long-COVID to genuinely and wholly include vaccine-injured people. Specifically, people who have been injured by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. We need to study this better. We need to fund physicians who are caring for these patients clinically and who are doing scientific work in this area,” he stated.
