TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A statewide grand jury convened on the request of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to analyze “any and all wrongdoing” regarding COVID-19 vaccines didn’t discover any proof of legal exercise, in response to a report unsealed on Tuesday.
“(N)ot discovering any indictable legal exercise doesn’t imply we didn’t discover any issues. Quite the opposite, there are profound and severe points involving the method of vaccine improvement and security surveillance in america,” the grand jury wrote in its remaining report.
In response to its findings, the grand jury made coverage suggestions in its report, together with rising transparency round medical trials and banning commercials for pharmaceutical medicine.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention maintains that COVID-19 vaccines underwent intensive security analyses and that the photographs proceed to be monitored after FDA approval to make sure they nonetheless meet federal security and efficacy requirements.
Whereas the vaccines aren’t good, they do job of preventing severe disease, hospitalization and demise, and have confirmed very secure, with solely uncommon severe side effects, in response to federal officials and public well being consultants.
DeSantis sought the investigation in 2022, forward of his bid for the Republican Celebration’s presidential nomination and as he was bolstering his nationwide profile via hard-line opposition to pandemic lockdowns and masks mandates.
On the time, DeSantis mentioned the probe would “convey authorized accountability to those that dedicated misconduct” and will assist get extra info from pharmaceutical corporations concerning the vaccines and potential unwanted effects.
A spokesperson for the governor didn’t instantly reply on Tuesday to a request for remark from The Related Press.
Statewide grand juries, often comprised of 18 individuals, can examine legal exercise and concern indictments but in addition study systemic issues in Florida and make suggestions. In recent times, different panels have tackled immigration points and college security.