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IN-BRIEF

Florida is the first state to recommend against mRNA COVID vaccination of children and men up to age 39, but it joins the UK, Sweden, and Denmark in some regards.
The Florida Department of Health conducted a self-controlled case series (SCCS) with a 25-week observation period, similar to an analysis done in the UK. The Florida study found an elevated risk of cardiac death among men ages 18 to 39 in the 28 days following mRNA COVID vaccination.
Medical literature shows myocarditis after COVID vaccination can be both immediate and severe, with rates as high as 1 in 1,862, for males ages 18–24.
There are several hypotheses about how the spike protein can cause this cardiac damage, particularly in young male populations. A worldwide registry of cases would help shed light on risk factors.
Worry about post-vaccination symptoms can create a negative feedback loop. Instead, try some of these management tips:
To manage anxiety, try taking a deep breath in (count to 4), hold for 4 counts, and slowly exhale for 8 counts. If you have a blood pressure cuff at home, try using biofeedback to watch your blood pressure come down using the same techniques. You will regain confidence in your body's ability to regulate stress by asking the parasympathetic nervous system to turn off the alarms set off by the sympathetic nervous system.
While the recent guidance from Florida is rather shocking to some in the United States, it is reassuring to see that critical thinking is alive and well. Medicine is not stagnant, nor one-size-fits-all.

Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, announced on Oct. 7, 2022 that the state now recommends against mRNA COVID-19 vaccination of males ages 18 to 39 years given the results of a recent study which found an 84 percent increase in the risk of cardiac death among young adult males within 28 days of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination....