About Bara Vaida
Bara Vaida (@barav) is AHCJ's core topic leader on infectious diseases. An independent journalist, she has written extensively about health policy and infectious diseases. Her work has appeared in the National Journal, Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg News, McClatchy News Service, MSNBC, NPR, Politico, The Washington Post and other outlets.

Tampa Bay Times health care reporter Chris O’Donnell.
In October 2022, Tampa Bay Times health care reporter Chris O’Donnell covered the controversial decision by Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, to recommend against mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines for men ages 18 to 39. Ladapo said a state analysis of death certificate data showed a high-risk of heart-related deaths within weeks of getting the vaccines.
Medical and public health leaders were quick to condemn the state’s analysis and recommendation, noting that the report hadn’t been peer-reviewed, had no authors cited and appeared to cherry-pick data. O’Donnell wanted to know how the state’s study drew its conclusions, but state agency officials weren’t talking.
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Bara Vaida (@barav) is AHCJ's core topic leader on infectious diseases. An independent journalist, she has written extensively about health policy and infectious diseases. Her work has appeared in the National Journal, Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg News, McClatchy News Service, MSNBC, NPR, Politico, The Washington Post and other outlets.