Florida Grand Jury Finds 'Serious Issues,' But No Criminal Activity Related to COVID Vaccines

The left headlined the jury's official finding, while the right emphasized its critical commentary on pharmaceutical and medical companies.

The Details: Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis commissioned the grand jury in 2022 to investigate companies involved with the development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Its report, released Tuesday, found no factual evidence that could sustain a criminal indictment, but criticized organizations it said lacked transparency and promoted or mandated vaccines indiscriminately to demographics for which the vaccine's potential harms may have outweighed its benefits.

How the Media Covered It: Tallahassee Democrat (Center bias) included the full report at the bottom of its article and went into detail on its recommended changes to government policy and business practices. Media coverage outside of Florida was sparse. The Federalist (Right) used sensationalism to emphasize the report's negative "bombshell findings" and accused government officials of promoting "pseudo-science" to push COVID measures. Associated Press (Left) noted DeSantis was planning to run for president when he convened the jury, implying it was a political move he may not have been committed to after losing the primary. It cited "federal officials and public health experts" to assert that vaccines "have proven very safe, with only rare serious side effects." AP brought some balance to its story by noting the jury's criticisms of vaccine development.

Why the Difference: Conservatives tend to be hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines, while liberals are more likely to advocate for vaccination as a crucial safety measure. Though Donald Trump began the rapid vaccine development program known as Operation Warp Speed as president, vaccine attitudes became a major partisan divide in the years after he left office.