Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will ask the state Supreme Court to convene a grand jury to investigate “any and all wrongdoing” related to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Republican governor, often cited as a possible 2024 presidential candidate, did not say what wrongdoing the panel would investigate, but said it was in part an effort to gain more information from pharmaceutical companies about vaccines and potential side effects Information.
He made the announcement after a roundtable with Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and a group of scientists and doctors.
“Whether they want it or not, we’ve got the data,” DeSantis said. “In Florida, it’s illegal to misrepresent and misrepresent facts, especially when you’re talking about the efficacy of a drug.”
Vaccine research funded by pharmaceutical companies developing a Covid vaccine has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, and government panels have reviewed data on the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness before it is approved for use.
A statewide grand jury, usually composed of 18 people, investigates criminal activity and prosecutes, as well as examines and makes recommendations on systemic problems in Florida. More recently, such groups have addressed immigration issues and school safety.
DeSantis noted that Florida recently “got $3.2 billion in legal action against those responsible for the opioid crisis. So, it’s not unprecedented.”
The money comes mostly from lawsuits and settlements with drugmakers, retailers and distributors.
DeSantis said he hopes to get Supreme Court approval to make grand jury selections statewide, possibly in the Tampa Bay area.
“This will be accompanied by legal processes that will enable access to additional information and hold those who committed wrongdoing accountable,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also announced that he is creating an entity called the Commission on Public Health Integrity, which will include many of the doctors and scientists who participated in Tuesday’s roundtable. The group includes leading opponents of the lockdown, federal vaccine mandates and childhood vaccinations.
During the pandemic, some people have lost faith in public health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said. The governor has often spoken out against CDC directives, including mandates for masks and vaccines, and has filed lawsuits to prevent many of them from taking effect in Florida.
In addition, the governor announced that Radapo will conduct research through the University of Florida to “evaluate sudden death in individuals who are in good health and who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.”
DeSantis also said the Florida Department of Health will use disease surveillance and vital statistics data to assess such deaths.