Social media giant Twitter first blocked, then restored, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s tweet regarding the state health department’s guidance in which is noted a study showing an “84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination COVID-19 mRNA shots.”
“Today, we released an analysis on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines the public needs to be aware of,” Ladapo tweeted. “This analysis showed an increased risk of cardiac-related death among men 18-39. FL will not be silent on the truth.”
Today, we released an analysis on COVID-19 mRNA vaccines the public needs to be aware of. This analysis showed an increased risk of cardiac-related death among men 18-39. FL will not be silent on the truth.
Guidance: https://t.co/DcWZLoMU5E
Press Release: https://t.co/Y0r9yepi7F— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) October 7, 2022
“Our current misleading information policies cover: synthetic and manipulated media, COVID-19, and civic integrity,” Twitter said in its post that blocked Ladapo’s tweet, according to the German-owned Politico. “If we determine a Tweet contains misleading or disputed information per our policies that could lead to harm, we may add a label to the content to provide context and additional information.”
On Sunday morning, however, Ladapo’s tweet was restored.
Governor Ron DeSantis’s press secretary Bryan Griffin posted that Twitter’s block on Ladapo’s tweet is “an unacceptable and Orwellian move for narrative over fact.”
.@Twitter censored data posted by the Florida State Surgeon General @FLSurgeonGen that showed an increase risk of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. This is an unacceptable and Orwellian move for narrative over fact. pic.twitter.com/cuTkDM0KOi
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) October 9, 2022
The Tweet has been restored by @Twitter. Thank you to everyone who helped draw attention to this.
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) October 9, 2022
Ladapo’s tweet referenced his office’s guidance regarding the results of the Florida Health Department’s analysis of a study of mortality risk following vaccination with the mRNA COVID-19 shot.
The guidance stated:
This analysis found there is an 84% increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. Individuals with preexisting cardiac conditions, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, should take particular caution when considering vaccination and discuss with their health care provider.
Based on the data, the state’s health department said “patients should be informed of the possible cardiac complications that can arise after receiving a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.”
“With a high level of global immunity to COVID-19, the benefit of vaccination is likely outweighed by this abnormally high risk of cardiac-related death among men in this age group,” the guidance continues.
“The State Surgeon General now recommends against the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for males ages 18-39 years old,” says the statement.
Finally, is it really that hard to imagine that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that increase myocarditis in young men by 10x, 20x, or 30x (see Karlstad et al,
JAMA Cardiology, 2022) also increase the risk of cardiac death in that age group?
Of course it's not, and we all know that. 😉— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) October 10, 2022
“Finally, is it really that hard to imagine that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that increase myocarditis in young men by 10x, 20x, or 30x (see Karlstad et al, JAMA Cardiology, 2022) also increase the risk of cardiac death in that age group?” Ladapo posed the question on Twitter. “Of course it’s not, and we all know that.”
I love the discussion that we've stimulated.
Isn't it great when we discuss science transparently instead of trying to cancel one another?
I'm going to respond to the more substantive critiques.🧵
— Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD (@FLSurgeonGen) October 10, 2022
Ladapo commented Monday regarding the discussion about the study that was generated on Twitter after his tweet was restored, writing in a subsequent tweet, “Isn’t it great when we discuss science transparently instead of trying to cancel one another?”
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Joseph Ladapo” by WUSF. Background Photo “COVID-19 Shot” by U.S. Secretary of Defense. CC BY 2.0.
