Florida Surgeon General

Experts said that small DNA fragments found in the vaccines are not cause for concern. Cells are needed to make vaccines, and those cells contain DNA.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo called for a "halt" in the use of the mRNA vaccines, contradicting recommendations from federal health agencies.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 27-12 along party lines to confirm Ladapo. The Senate also confirmed 15 other agency heads, including Jason Weida as AHCA secretary.

In a tweet, Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote that Dr. Joseph Ladapo's "evidence-based principles serve as a counterweight to the increasingly political positions of the entrenched medical establishment."

The way Ladapo was hired appeared to violate the spirit of UF hiring regulations and procedures, a report released by the committee said.

Ladapo has faced criticism over his stance on vaccines and masking.

Fewer than five states have a surgeon general. Florida has had one since 2007, but critics say the job serving as the top advocate for wellness and disease prevention has changed because of state politics.

A Republican-controlled Senate committee voted 5-4 along party lines to back the confirmation as Democrats questioned Ladapo for nearly two hours over his views of COVID-19. It now moves to a full Senate vote.

The comments on the FDLE background check come as Dr. Joseph Ladapo is scheduled Tuesday to go before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, his second confirmation hearing.

Dr. Scott Rivkees, who led Florida’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic as head of the state health department, has accepted a job at Brown University.

Florida’s surgeon general is now stripped of the authority to mandate vaccines under declared public health emergencies. That’s under a new law signed by the governor yesterday.

Joseph Ladapo said he cannot communicate clearly with a mask and offered to meet outside with a state senator who has breast cancer.