Florida's former surgeon general is speaking out against the DeSantis administration advising against updated COVID shots for people under 65.
have "not been proven to be safe or effective" and that the shots should not be recommended for individuals under the age of 65.
"If they say that COVID vaccines are not safe and that they are not effective, the onus is on them to show those data," Rivkees said.recommendationsDr. Scott Rivkees speaks to the media as he is flanked by, Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson, right, March 2, 2020, in Tampa."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," Gov.
The Food and Drug Administration told ABC News in a statement that these were not new vaccines being offered. Rivkees points to CDC data showing that about 25% of COVID deaths in the state of Florida were in individuals under the age of 65. While there remains a lower risk of severe illness in younger populations, the benefits of protection from a vaccine outweigh any potential risks, federal health authorities say.