Tag Archives: Ron DeSantis

Florida Anti-Vaccine Advice Slammed As Dangerous!

Former Florida surgeon general Dr. Scott Rivkees and the CDC just publicly slammed the state’s advice against getting the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine!

Find out what he said, and what’s going on!

Florida Recommends Against 2023 Updated COVID-19 Vaccines!

Just one day after the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older should get the new 2023 updated COVID-19 vaccines, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued a statement recommending against people under 65 getting the updated vaccine.

In his statement, Ladapo claimed that getting the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines make it easier for people to get infected, while running risk of getting cardiac problems. Instead of getting the new COVID-19 vaccines, Ladapo recommends staying physically active outdoors, and eating more vegetables…

As the federal government makes new boosters for COVID-19 available, the Florida Department of Health (Department) reminds health care providers of their obligation to remain up to date with the current literature related to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

A new mRNA COVID-19 booster was approved on September 11, 2023, by the federal government. While the initial mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) utilizing human clinical trial data, the most recent booster approval was granted in the absence of any meaningful booster-specific clinical trial data performed in humans. In both cases the federal government has failed to provide sufficient data to support the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Health care providers are expected to include the information in this guidance in discussions with patients regarding the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

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.

Providers and patients should be aware of outstanding safety and efficacy concerns:

Throughout the pandemic, studies across geographic regions have found that the mRNA
COVID-19 vaccines are associated with negative effectiveness after 4 to 6 months. As efficacy waned, studies showed that COVID-19 vaccinated individuals developed an increased risk for infection. This is not found in other vaccines, including the flu vaccine.
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines present a risk of subclinical and clinical myocarditis and other cardiovascular conditions among otherwise healthy individuals.
There is unknown risk of potential adverse impacts with each additional dose of the mRNA
COVID-19 vaccine; currently individuals may have received five to seven doses (and counting) of this vaccine over a 3-year period.
Elevated levels of spike protein from the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine persist among some individuals for an indefinite period of time, which may carry health risks.

Improving habits and overall health help manage and reduce the risk of serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The State Surgeon General and the Department continue to encourage Floridians to prioritize their overall health by:

Staying physically active,
Minimizing processed foods,
Maximizing vegetables and healthy fats, and
Spending time outside to support necessary vitamin D levels.

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Former Surgeon General Slams Florida Vaccine Advice!

Former Florida surgeon general Dr. Scott Rivkees just publicly slammed the DeSantis administration and Dr. Joseph Ladapo for advising people against getting the updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Scott Rivkees preceded Dr. Joseph Ladapo as the state surgeon general, resigning in September 2021 after being shunned by Ron DeSantis for encouraging COVID-19 precautions when the Florida governor wanted virtually no preventive measures.

When the current Florida surgeon general issued that advice against getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine, he spoke up against it to USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida.

Dr. Rivkees, who is a pediatrician and now a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be “very safe” and “very effective”.

Rates of COVID vaccination are lower in Florida than they had been. I think the cumulative effect of this anti-vaccine messaging is being felt.

COVID is a vaccine preventable disease. These vaccines are very safe and very effective.

CDC Labels Florida Vaccine Advice As Dangerous!

The CDC also publicly criticised both Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his surgeon general Joseph Ladapo for advising against getting the updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccine, with CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen calling their comments “dangerous“.

Vaccination against COVID-19 remains the safest protection for avoiding hospitalizations, long-term health challenges, and death.

As we head into the fall and winter seasons, it is important that Americans get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. They are proven safe; they are effective, and they have been thoroughly and independently reviewed by the FDA and CDC.

Public health experts are in broad agreement about these facts, and efforts to undercut vaccine uptake are unfounded and dangerous.

The US FDA has also stated publicly that the new 2023 COVID-19 vaccines have been thoroughly reviewed and tested for safety:

The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality.

We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated.

– Peter Marks, Director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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2023 COVID-19 Vaccines Have “A Lot Of Red Flags”?!

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Should you listen to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo who claimed that the 2023 COVID-19 vaccines have “a lot of red flags”?!

Find out what he said, and what the facts really are!

Claim : 2023 COVID-19 Vaccines Have “A Lot Of Red Flags”

Days before the FDA approved the updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccines that the CDC later recommended for everyone 6 years and older, Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo went on a rant.

During a “Mandate Freedom” press conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on September 7, 2023, Ladapo criticised the 2023 COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that there are “a lot of red flags”.

There’s a new vaccine that’s coming around the corner, a new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, and there’s essentially no evidence for it.

There’s been no clinical trial done in human beings showing that it benefits people. There’s been no clinical trial showing that it is a safe product for people — and not only that, but then there are a lot of red flags.

So something that you don’t hear much about, but we’ll be talking more about is that there are multiple studies now from around the world – Brazil, I think Australia, United States, that show that over time, these vaccines, these mRNA COVID-19 products actually increase your chances of contracting COVID-19.

That’s not normal, and unfortunately, you are going to have people who are going to get on television and try to explain why you should be comfortable with that, you should be comfortable with taking a product that ultimately, like its predecessors, increases your chance of contracting something.

No Evidence 2023 COVID-19 Vaccines Have “A Lot Of Red Flags”

Let’s take a look at the claims Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made at the “Mandate Freedom” press conference, and see what the facts really are…

Fact #1 : Joseph Ladapo Was Appointed By Ron DeSantis

First, I think it is important to note that most US states do not have a surgeon general. State surgeon generals are a recent “invention”, with only five states creating this position:

Pennsylvania : 1996
Michigan : 2003
Arkansas and Florida : 2007
California : 2019

Even so, Michigan has not filled its Surgeon General post since 2010. All other US states and territories do not their own state surgeon generals, and rely on the US Surgeon General, who is currently Vivek Murthy.

Joseph Abiodun Ladapo was appointed to the post of Florida Surgeon General by Florida governor Ron DeSantis on September 21, 2021, following his op-eds promoting unproven COVID-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, questioning the safety of vaccines, and opposing lockdowns and mask mandates.

At that time, he claimed that these opinions were based on his “experience in treating COVID-19 patients at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, UCLA staff roster do not show him treating any COVID-19 patients. Several of his colleagues also stated that Ladapo had never treated any COVID-19 patient.

Fact #2 : Ladapo’s Advice Are Often Controversial

After he was appointed as Florida Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo’s first move was to repeal quarantine requirements for schoolchildren exposed to COVID-19.

He also recommended that children in Florida should not be vaccinated against COVID-19, making Florida the first state to contradict COVID-19 vaccine guidelines by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Ladapo also suggested that men aged 18 to 39 should not be vaccinated, claiming high cases of cardiac-related deaths for those who took the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines – a claim that was rejected by many medical professionals.

In a sign that his views were possibly disgraceful, the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine removed Ladapo’s name and biography from its websites.

In January 2023, the Faculty Council of the University of Florida College of Medicine said that Ladapo’s recommendation was based on “careless and contentious research practice” and might have violated the university policies on research integrity.

On March 10, 2023, the CDC and the FDA publicly rebuked Joseph Ladapo (PDF download) for claiming that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines cause widespread adverse events.

Fact #3 : Ladapo Comments Were Made Before Vaccine Approval

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made those comments on 7 September – four days before the US FDA approved the updated 2023 vaccines, and five days before the CDC recommended their use in people 6 months and older.

So how did Ladapo know that these updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccines have “a lot of red flags” days before the FDA and the CDC announced their findings?

Fact #4 : Ladapo Did Not Offer Any Evidence

Even more troubling – Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo did not offer any evidence to back up his claim that the updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccines have “a lot of red flags”.

What exactly are those red flags? He didn’t say.

Fact #5 : Ladapo Asked People To “Feel” Instead

Instead of providing evidence that the updated 2023 COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo asked people to “feel” instead.

Listen inside to what makes sense, what feels right, you know, what feels like truth. What has that feeling, and that resonance of truth. That clarity of truth, like we all know it when we feel it inside.

Ladapo also explained that some people are more able to “feel” the truth, because they are more advanced in their “spiritual journeys”.

Some of us know it more readily than others, and it’s because we are all in different points in our spiritual journeys”.

To be clear – that’s not what they teach in medical school. Doctors are not taught to “feel” what is right, or what is wrong, for their patients.

Doctors are trained to examine patients, and use a variety of investigative tools like x-ray, ECG, MRI, ultrasound, etc. to come to a diagnosis. Then they prescribe a treatment based on the research conducted by other doctors and scientists.

Whether they are religious (or spiritual) or not, should not be a factor in the diagnosis or treatment of any patient.

Fact #6 : COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe + Effective

The truth is – COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. And we know this because not only have they passed large Phase 3 clinical trials, billions of doses have been administered worldwide in the past 2.5 years.

Thanks to the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines in preventing hospitalisation and death from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hospitals are no longer filled with people gasping for breath. In fact, the world has successfully reopened, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines do not make it easier for people to get infected. It only appears that way because many people are now vaccinated. If 90% of the world is vaccinated, then it is only natural that 90% of infected people have been vaccinated.

I should also point out that the COVID-19 vaccines were designed to prevent death and severe disease. They are not force fields that block you from being infected, so fully-vaccinated people will still get infected.

However, because the COVID-19 vaccines have trained your own immune system to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, you are more likely to suffer a mild disease, or even remain asymptomatic.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Elton John Boycotts US Over Gay Rights?!

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Did Elton John just boycott the US over gay rights, while forgetting about his own past?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Elton John Boycotts US Over Gay Rights!

People are sharing an OutKick article, claiming that Elton John has just boycotted the US over gay rights, while forgetting about his past! Here is an excerpt from that OutKick article:

Elton John Boycotts U.S. Over Gay Rights, Forgets Own Past

John’s road retirement may not last, but he’s certain he won’t play as much as a residency in the States moving forward. Why? He cites the new, “disgraceful” hate aimed at the LGBTQ+ community coursing through America’s veins.

He’s clearly conflating laws meant to protect children from life-altering surgery with the broader gay rights movement. In doing so, he’s following the media’s fuzzy narratives on the issues, meant to distract from the laws in question.

The same holds true for the false “don’t say gay” narrative describing Florida legislating protecting small children from sexually suggestive materials in the classroom. Gay activists pounced and seized on that false narrative with cover from mainstream journalists.

There’s another problem with John’s heartfelt stance.

His past.

The “Piano Man” is no stranger to playing in countries with terrible laws aimed at gay citizens. And he didn’t make a fuss about it at the time or refuse to hit a single key until said laws were stricken from the books.

John performed at a benefit concert in Dubai in 2017, no. 8 on Forbes’ list of most dangerous places for gay citizens to travel.

He nearly performed in Egypt in 2010 before powerful forces objected to both his lifestyle and for comments suggesting Jesus was gay.

The music legend also brought his greatest his catalog to Morocco, number 18 on the aforementioned Forbes list.

His new protestations against the U.S., though, hardly measure up to his greatest social achievements.

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Truth : Elton John Did Not Boycott US Over Gay Rights!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created about the LGBTQIA community, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Elton John Does Not Want Another US Residency

Let me just start by pointing out that Elton John never said that he will no longer perform in the United States, after his farewell tour ends.

In his interview with Radio Times, what Elton John said was that he still plans to continue performing after his three-year Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour ends. He was interested in a residency – playing at a single venue, but not in the United States of America.

I said when I announced the farewell tour that maybe I would do a residency like Kate Bush did at Hammersmith [in 2014]. But not in America. I will not do it in America.

But that’s in the long term. I don’t want to think about the stage – I’ve been on it since I was 17.

In other words, Elton John does not intend to go back for a third Las Vegas residency. As his husband and manager, David Furnish explained:

Will Elton return as a live performer? I hope so! It’s in his blood…

I know for a fact he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’re going to see is the possibility of a special one-off or a small residency in one venue for a limited period of time.

I don’t think it will be Las Vegas. Elton feels he’s done the best he can in Las Vegas. He mounted two hugely successful residencies there.

When you’re an artist and something’s in your blood, you don’t want to shut the door completely.

Fact #2 : Elton John Dislikes Violence + Discrimination In America

Elton John has been outspoken about what he dislikes about America – violence and discriminatory laws. However, he did not say he was boycotting the US.

It is peculiar that the OutKick article should suggest that Elton John was “clearly conflating laws meant to protect children from life-altering surgery“, when Elton himself was explicit about what he disliked about that particular discriminatory Florida law.

It’s all going pear-shaped in America. There’s violence, [discriminatory] laws enacted in Florida, which are disgraceful. There’s a law now that, if you visit a doctor in Florida, they can refuse to treat you if you’re gay, which I find just unbelievable.

We seem to be going backwards. And that spreads. It’s like a virus that the LGBTQ+ movement is suffering.

It seems clear to me that Elton was very clear about what he disliked about that particular Florida law!

Fact #3 : HB 1557 Is Don’t Say Gay Bill

The OutKick article then refers to House Bill 1557 (HB 1557 : Parental Rights in Education), which regulates public schools in Florida.

This is the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits public schools from discussing or teaching students about sexual orientation or gender identity, from kindergarten up to grade three.

Presumably, Florida lawmakers believe that teaching children about gender identity and sexual orientation is how children are groomed into accepting sexual abuse. As Christina Pushaw – the press secretary of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, explained:

The bill that liberals inaccurately call “Don’t Say Gay” would be more accurately described as an Anti-Grooming Bill.

If you’re against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children.

Fact #4 : Elton John Referred To SB 1580, Not HB 1557

Elton John never mentioned any Florida law concerning children, education, or public schools in his interview with Radio Times.

He only referred to a completely different Florida law – SB 1580 : Protections of Medical Conscience Bill, which allows healthcare providers and insurers to deny patient care based on religious, moral or ethical beliefs.

This SB 1580 law has absolutely nothing to do with children or their education, which is covered by the completely different HB 1557 law (see above).

So why did OutKick bring up HB 1557 (the so-called Don’t Say Gay Bill), which Elton John never mentioned in his interview? Misunderstanding? Misdirection? Misinterpretation? Misinformation?

Fact #5 : Elton John Rarely Performs In Anti-LGBT Countries

While Elton John has been outspoken about gay rights, he has not stopped performing in countries with laws that can be used to harass or persecute gay people. But they have been extremely rare in number – United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Russia.

What OutKick may not realise is that those countries do not matter financially to Elton John, who performs in many more concerts in LGBT-friendly countries, and can easily forego those countries. It seems more likely that Elton John only performed in those countries because he was allowed to.

Think on that – those anti-LGBT countries allowed Elton John – an openly gay performer – to sing and perform for his fans. That is not evidence of his hypocrisy. That shows the power of his music.

Fact #6 : Concerts Are Different From Residencies

Finally, I should point out that performing at one-off concerts in countries with restrictive, anti-LGBT laws is quite different from actually staying in those countries.

It’s one thing to try and change minds by performing in those countries for a show or two, it’s quite another thing to live in such countries.

So it isn’t hypocrisy if Elton John has no qualms performing in countries with restrictive, anti-LGBT laws, but chooses not to live for months or years in the US because he dislikes its violence and laws.

It’s no different from how staunchly conservative anti-LGBT activists have no problem holidaying in countries with progressive pro-LGBT laws.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Elton John Ban US Over Anti-Grooming Laws?!

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Did Elton John stop performing in the United States due to its anti-grooming laws?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Elton John Bans US Over Anti-Grooming Laws!

People are sharing an Epoch Times article, as evidence that Elton John singled out anti-grooming laws as the reason why he will no longer perform in the United States.

Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis : Elton John Singles Out Anti-Grooming Laws as Why He’s Done Performing in the US. Lol. Bye.

Laurence Fox : Elton John Singles Out Anti-Grooming Laws as Why He’s Done Performing in the US.

If he walks like a groomer, talks like a groomer, adopts two boys and parades them around with husband and lover-s in tow, he is a… #TinyGroomer

Truth : Elton John Did Not Ban US Over Anti-Grooming Laws!