In a recent statement, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis raised concerns about COVID-19 boosters, suggesting that they could make individuals more susceptible to infection. However, experts have contradicted his claim, stating that there is no concrete evidence supporting an increased risk of infection for those who have received boosters.

During his presidential campaign, DeSantis highlighted his swift actions in reopening Florida amid the pandemic, positioning it as an economic success story. While initially supportive of the COVID-19 vaccine, DeSantis and his allies have since expressed skepticism, with his hand-picked state surgeon general even raising unfounded concerns about the vaccine's impact on human health.

DeSantis cautioned against the vaccine's use, arguing that individuals who receive it are more likely to fall ill. He specifically stated, "Every booster you take, you're more likely to get COVID as a result of it," during a speech in January 2023. However, fact-checking by PolitiFact found this claim to be false.

Leading experts in the field have firmly disagreed with DeSantis' assertion. COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, are primarily designed to prevent severe illness, rather than completely eradicating infection. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, emphasized that the latest boosters have shown significant effectiveness against severe disease, particularly in reducing hospitalizations among older individuals.

DeSantis' argument seems to hold the vaccine to an unrealistic standard of providing complete protection against infection, which was never its intended purpose. In an opinion article published in The Wall Street Journal, a study from the Cleveland Clinic was cited to support DeSantis' claim. However, the author of the study clarified that there was no link between receiving the vaccine and an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

Experts further pointed out that the study population consisted mainly of younger, healthier healthcare workers, limiting its applicability to the general population. René Najera, an epidemiologist and director of the Center for Public Health at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, emphasized that the findings were only relevant to healthcare workers in similar settings.

The difficulty in conducting real-world experiments to measure infection rates, especially among vulnerable populations, introduces significant limitations to studies like the one conducted at the Cleveland Clinic. Vaccine hesitancy and limited testing among certain demographics further complicate attempts to make accurate comparisons.

It is important to note that COVID-19 vaccines function in a similar manner to other vaccines, targeting specific strains of the virus. Thus, vaccinated individuals are still susceptible to different strains that the vaccine may not cover. This is why regular updates to vaccines, such as flu shots and COVID-19 boosters, are necessary.

Monica Gandhi stress that while boosters may offer only modest protection against COVID-19 infection, there is no evidence to suggest that they increase the risk of contracting the virus. Therefore, DeSantis' claim that boosters result in more frequent infections is deemed incorrect by experts.

In summary, experts have refuted Governor DeSantis' assertion that COVID-19 boosters increase the risk of infection. The purpose of vaccines, including boosters, is primarily to prevent severe illness rather than eradicate infection altogether. The reliance on limited studies and difficulties in tracking infection rates among various populations contribute to the inaccurate portrayal of boosters' effects.