Florida Gov. DeSantis Calls For Grand Jury Investigation Into COVID Vaccines, Will Start Alternate CDC

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a grand jury to "investigate any and all wrongdoing in Florida with respect to COVID-19 vaccines."

DeSantis also announced his plans to create the Public Health Integrity Committee, stemming from his outspoken distrust of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Florida governor held a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, hosting several physicians, researchers, and victims "of adverse events from mRNA vaccines."

"The federal government, medical associations, and other experts have created an expectation that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is an ethical or civic duty and that choosing not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is selfish and harmful to others," DeSantis's petition for the grand jury investigation reads.

Most public health experts say COVID-19 vaccines are safe, and severe side effects are infrequent.

Despite the consensus, DeSantis' petition to the state supreme court to empanel a grand jury alleges that it is "impossible to imagine that so many influential individuals came to this view on their own" and that the pro-vaccine individuals and manufacturers "created these perceptions for financial gain."

DeSantis continued by further expressing his view on the CDC, questioning the validity of the organization responsible for researching and curtailing infectious diseases.

"Our CDC, at this point, anything they put out, you just assume, at this point, that it's not worth the paper that it's printed on. It's not serving a useful function. It's really serving to advance narratives," DeSantis said at Tuesday's roundtable.

DeSantis concluded the discussion by explaining the creation of a new Public Health Integrity Committee, described as a "committee of expert researchers charged with assessing federal decisions, recommendations, and guidance related to public health and health care," according to the governor's office.

Florida's Surgeon General will oversee the committee to "ensure that Florida's public health policies are tailored for Florida's communities," the governor's office said.

DeSantis has made his handling of COVID-19 a focal point of his time in office. The Florida governor is widely seen as the top Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign. Still, he has not yet indicated whether he will run for the presidency.