DeSantis’ Grand Jury Impaneled to Investigate mRNA Vaccine Manufacturers

By Lydia Nusbaum

Published Dec. 22, 2022, 3:35 p.m. ET | Updated Dec. 22, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis tours St. Augustine, assessing damage from Hurricane Ian, Oct. 1, 2022.

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The Florida Supreme Court granted Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate mRNA vaccine manufacturers.

DeSantis announced earlier in December his petition for a statewide grand jury to investigate “any and all wrongdoing” in Florida with respect to the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers.

“It is against the law to mislead and to misrepresent, particularly when you’re talking about the efficacy of a drug,” DeSantis said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on plan to investigate potential mRNA COVID-19 vaccine wrongdoing: "It is against the law to mislead and to misrepresent, particularly when you're talking about the efficacy of a drug." pic.twitter.com/39ITxvMStj
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 13, 2022

The statewide grand jury will be allowed to investigate groups involved in the design, development, clinical testing, marketing, and distribution of vaccines said to prevent COVID-19 infection, symptoms, and transmission. It will be impaneled for one year.

DeSantis’ petition argued that there was widespread belief that the COVID-19 vaccine prevented the disease from spreading, which led to vaccine mandates on citizens, health care workers, and military members.

“It is impossible to imagine that so many influential individuals came to this view on their own. Rather, it is likely that individuals and companies with an incentive to do so created these perceptions for financial gain,” the petition said.

The petition specifically points out Moderna and Pfizer’s claims about preventing the COVID-19 disease with “94.1% efficacy” and “91.3% vaccine efficacy.”

Earlier in December, DeSantis also announced that a public health integrity committee will be established. The board will advise the public and provide oversight moving forward of the public health establishment.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has previously spoken out against the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, saying they are “far less safe” than other vaccines based on an autopsy-based clinical research in a cardiology study.

In October, Lapado announced new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine guidance, advising against males aged 18-39 years old from taking those vaccines due to a reported 84% increase in the relative incidence of heart-related deaths.

Ladapo also warned about the risks of vaccinating “healthy children with no underlying conditions.” The surgeon general questioned the CDC on Twitter.