Florida Surgeon General Speaks Against mRNA
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo spoke Thursday in support of guidelines that no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
Article: My Take on Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s Stand Against mRNA Vaccines and the Case for Addressing Their Risks
As the Executive Director of BioChecked™, an organization committed to transparency in health and science, I found Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s July 17, 2025, press conference in Tampa to be a powerful moment. His support for federal guidelines dropping mRNA COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women aligns with my long-standing concerns about these vaccines’ risks. Ladapo’s blunt assertion that mRNA vaccines are “not fit for human use” due to documented adverse effects resonates with BioChecked™’s mission to prioritize data-driven truth over narrative. This article explores why his stance matters, focusing on the history and evidence of mRNA vaccine damage, and why I’m glad to see a shift away from their unchecked promotion.
Ladapo’s Message: Highlighting mRNA Vaccine Risks
In the video, Ladapo endorses a reported May 2025 federal decision, attributed to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to remove mRNA vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. He cites clinical evidence of widespread adverse reactions, including serious conditions like myocarditis and neurological issues, and calls for NIH research to investigate vaccine injuries and support affected individuals. This stance reflects a critical pivot in public health policy, acknowledging risks that have been downplayed since the mRNA vaccines’ rollout in 2020. For me, Ladapo’s position is a necessary challenge to the assumption that these vaccines are universally safe, especially for low-risk groups.
The Evidence: mRNA Vaccine Damage in Focus
The history of mRNA vaccines, particularly Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, is marked by both innovation and concerning data. While these vaccines were hailed for reducing severe COVID-19 outcomes, reports of adverse effects emerged early. The CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has logged over 1 million reports for COVID-19 vaccines since 2020, including thousands of deaths and serious injuries like myocarditis, pericarditis, and neurological disorders. A 2021 study in Circulation noted elevated myocarditis risks in young males post-mRNA vaccination, with rates as high as 1 in 2,000 for certain age groups. Pregnant women have also reported higher-than-expected miscarriage rates, with a 2021 New England Journal of Medicine study initially raising concerns about early pregnancy loss, though later clarified as inconclusive.
Ladapo’s concerns about DNA contamination in mRNA vaccines, while controversial, stem from studies like a 2023 analysis by McKernan et al., which detected trace plasmid DNA in vaccine vials. Though the FDA has dismissed these findings as insignificant, the lack of long-term studies on DNA integration fuels uncertainty. BioChecked™ has long advocated for rigorous post-market surveillance, as the accelerated development of mRNA vaccines—under Operation Warp Speed—skipped traditional multi-year safety trials. The 2023 retraction of a Vaccines study questioning mRNA safety, under pressure from pharmaceutical interests, further underscores the suppression of critical inquiry. These data points, combined with clinical reports of vaccine injuries, justify Ladapo’s call for research and caution.
Historical Context: A Pattern of Overreach
The push for mRNA vaccines began with unprecedented urgency in 2020, driven by a global crisis. But the narrative of universal safety ignored early warning signs. By 2021, countries like Norway and Denmark paused certain mRNA vaccines for younger populations due to myocarditis risks, while the U.S. pressed forward with broad mandates. Florida, under Ladapo’s leadership since 2021, has consistently resisted this approach, opting out of universal vaccination campaigns and prioritizing natural immunity and risk-based strategies. The state’s low vaccination rates—around 60% fully vaccinated compared to the national 70%—reflect this skepticism, yet Florida’s COVID mortality rates have remained comparable to highly vaccinated states, per CDC data through 2024. This history supports Ladapo’s argument that blanket mRNA recommendations, especially for low-risk groups, were misguided.
Why This Matters to Me
At BioChecked™, we’ve championed evidence over agenda, and Ladapo’s speech aligns with our call for transparency. The risks of mRNA vaccines—particularly for healthy children and pregnant women, who face low COVID-19 mortality rates (under 0.01% for kids per CDC data)—demand scrutiny. His push for NIH research into vaccine injuries could finally address the thousands of reported cases dismissed as “rare” or “coincidental.” The mainstream narrative, which downplays these risks while emphasizing vaccine efficacy, has eroded trust. Ladapo’s stance is a step toward rebuilding it by prioritizing real-world data over pharmaceutical interests.
The Delivery: Clear and Uncompromising
Ladapo’s press conference is direct, with clear audio and a focus on his message. His statement that mRNA vaccines “should not be going into human beings” is stark, reflecting the urgency of his concerns. The presence of Dr. Pierre Kory reinforces the focus on vaccine injury research, though the video’s simple production keeps the emphasis on substance over flash. This clarity resonates with me, as it cuts through years of sanitized public health messaging.
Final Thoughts
Ladapo’s video left me hopeful that we’re moving toward a more honest conversation about mRNA vaccines. The data—VAERS reports, myocarditis studies, and unanswered questions about DNA contamination—demands action, not dismissal. As Executive Director of BioChecked™, I see this as a call to double down on our mission for transparency and accountability. I urge readers to watch the video, review the evidence, and demand answers about vaccine safety. The truth matters more than the narrative.