Monday’s actions came at the prompting of an executive order by Gov. Tim Walz, who said he was concerned that federal health authorities were ignoring scientific research.
Other states have taken similar steps; Wisconsin’s state epidemiologist issued a standing order last week as well to hasten COVID-19 vaccinations by pharmacists.
Complications from COVID-19 vaccinations are considered rare, but they do happen. Some Minnesotans reported disabling conditions after vaccinations they sought amid the pandemic. The Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Gregory Poland, a widely known vaccine advocate, reported ear-ringing known as tinnitus after his shot.
A University of Minnesota-led research group conducted an exhaustive review this summer of the latest vaccine safety data and verified rare and mostly mild cases of myocarditis (or a swelling of the heart muscle) among vaccine recipients. One study included in the analysis found up to three cases per 100,000 recipients, mostly males, in those who received the Pfizer version of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In that analysis, COVID-19 vaccines still presented far greater benefits than risks for individuals, protecting them against severe or disabling levels of COVID-19. Michael Osterholm, director of the U’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, was critical of federal advisers last week for overlooking these clear scientific findings.
“Sadly,” he said, “the ACIP we knew has been hijacked and is today an ideological body and no longer a scientific one.”
First Appeared on
Source link
