• Florida’s Surgeon General officially recommended against COVID-19 booster shots for individuals under the age of 65, citing global widespread immunity and lack of sufficient clinical evidence from the FDA.
• A Florida Department of Health’s memo suggests that individuals 65 and older should consult with their healthcare providers for advice on the booster.
• Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the federal government, saying that he won’t allow Floridians to be “guinea pigs” for unproven booster shots, reinforcing the state’s stance on prioritizing individual liberties in healthcare decisions.

(The Center Square) — Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said Wednesday that the Sunshine State will be the first state to officially recommend against COVID-19 boosters for those under age 65.

The state, in its guidance, discourages use of the booster for those under age 65, in part because global widespread immunity to COVID-19 has been achieved and because the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration boosters lack a human clinical trial and evidence of their efficiency or benefits. In a memo dated September 13th, the Florida Department of Health wrote:

Based on the high rate of global immunity and currently available data, the State Surgeon General recommends against the COVID-19 booster for individuals under 65. Individuals 65 and older should discuss this information with their health care provider, including potential concerns outlined in this guidance.

The memo also included references to nine clinical studies and white papers in support of the department’s announcement.

“Once again, the federal government is failing Americans by refusing to be honest about the risks and not providing sufficient clinical evidence when it comes to these COVID-19 mRNA shots, especially with how widespread immunity is now,” Ladapo said in a news release. “In Florida, we will always use common sense and protect the rights and liberties of Floridians, including the right to accurate information.”

In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a ban on vaccine passports, mask and vaccine requirements in Florida schools and businesses and prohibited employers from hiring or firing workers based on vaccination status.

“I will not stand by and let the FDA and CDC use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots that have not been proven to be safe or effective,” DeSantis said in a news release. “Once again, Florida is the first state in the nation to stand up and provide guidance based on truth, not Washington edicts.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently got new leadership. Dr. Mandy Cohen is the former Health Department leader in North Carolina, a state which declared a state of emergency for 888 days and imposed numerous restrictions on regular everyday life including schools, businesses and houses of faith.

Read the full memo here: