Public health pundits warn DeSantis COVID vaccine probe could kill people

Public health pundits are proclaiming that dire consequences will follow the grand jury investigation into COVID-19 vaccines commissioned by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), recently approved by the Florida Supreme Court.

Establishment medical experts told The Hill that the probe into potentially fraudulent claims about mRNA inoculations from their manufacturers, such as the efficacy of the products against infection and minimization of side effects, could get people killed.

"This is turning a matter of health and science into a political wedge issue, with the likely consequence that many people will be misled into placing themselves and their families at risk of serious illness and death," said Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice at Johns Hopkins University and former FDA principal deputy commissioner.

"These vaccines have been tested and scrutinized more than any other vaccine, and they continue to save lives," said Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, referring to the COVID vaccines first authorized on an emergency basis two years ago. "Vaccine safety is not a partisan issue and attempting to make it one puts lives at risk."

"No one has either inappropriately or purposely either overstated or understated the vaccine in any way," American Public Health Association executive director Georges Benjamin said, claiming the products "turned out to be a whole lot better than most people thought it would be."