Senate reconfirms Joseph Ladapo as surgeon general
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo was recommended for reappointment by the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 27-12.
The Senate Ethics and Election committee and Health Policy committee recommended his confirmation before the floor vote. The Senate also approved 15 other agency heads.
“I am honored to continue serving as Florida’s Surgeon General. We are committed to advancing the mission of public health, and it wouldn’t be possible without the fantastic work of our dedicated team at @HealthyFla!” Ladapo responded following the news.
Ladapo was appointed to his position on Sep. 21, 2021, and went under intense scrutiny from Democrats in the legislature during hearings. He was later confirmed in February 2022.
In November, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Ladapo will remain in his position.
In October 2022, Ladapo 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.”
In November 2022, Ladapo took to social media to warn parents to keep COVID-19 vaccines away from their children following a report from the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ladapo has an extensive medical background, serving as a professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine before being appointed. He graduated from Harvard Medical School to receive his M.D. He received a Ph.D. in Health Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
“Dr. Ladapo has done a great job as @FLSurgeonGen. His evidence-based principles serve as a counterweight to the increasingly political positions of the entrenched medical establishment, especially on schools, masks and mRNA shots,” DeSantis said. “Happy to announce he’ll return for our 2nd term!”
“Thanks for the love, Gov. It has been a privilege & pleasure to serve under your leadership. I have a feeling the best is yet to come,” Ladapo responded. “I look forward to continuing my service to the great people of Florida alongside my incredible team at @HealthyFla.”
Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, opposed Ladapo’s confirmation during the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections.
“Since Dr. Ladapo has been in office, the childhood vaccination rate is down significantly. We have experienced outbreaks of disease like measles in other parts of the country and you could tell by the answers that this is not a priority to encourage vaccinations,” Polsky said.
Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens, spoke in support of Ladapo.
“Aside from leading the Department of Health, especially through a once-in-a lifetime pandemic. Aside from that, you also are educating future public health leaders at the University of Florida. And aside from all of that, you also just recently saved someone’s life,” Avila said.
Avila brought up a recent event in March, where Ladapo performed chest compressions on a man who suffered a cardiac event at the capitol.
“That individual called you an angel. So just wanted to thank you for that. Thank you for your service. Thank you for educating our future public health officials and leaders. And with that, I urge the committee to support Dr. Ladapo,” Avila said.
