A Florida lawmaker is looking to force medical examiners in the state to explore the vaccination history of young adults, children, or infants who die suddenly for unknown reasons. The move comes in part after some cases of Myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation, began to emerge as a complication in young people after the first wave of COVID-19 shots became available in 2021.
Filed by Sen. Ileana Garcia (R-Miami), SB 188 would look into "Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome" related to cardiac arrhythmia mainly in young adults 20 or younger, who otherwise appear healthy, with no known previously diagnosed structural heart disease.
SB 188 also mandates examiners look into the history of sudden expected, or unexpected, deaths of infants under 1 year of age.
"My objective is to improve comprehensive and accurate health data, especially related to recent vaccinations. It's vital for the advancement of successful medical research and improving healthcare quality," Garcia told The Floridian "Detailed health records enable researchers and healthcare providers to identify patterns and correlations between vaccinations and health outcomes. This can help in detecting rare adverse reactions, understanding vaccine effectiveness, and monitoring long-term safety."
If passed, the law would essentially require medical examiners to review immunization history and report it within 90 days of the individual's passing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case registry.
Examiners who fail to report the information could face up to $5,000 in fines, depending on the instance. A current protocol by the state is not in place.
Picking up on Sen. Garcia's concern, Gov. Ron DeSantis also vowed to look into the issue back in 2022.
"Ultimately, robust health data supports a proactive approach to health management, fosters trust in vaccines, and helps in the early detection and response to potential health issues, thereby advancing overall public health and well-being," Garcia added.
Sen. Garcia filed SB 188 in mid-October. A House companion has not been filed.
If passed, SB 188 would take effect on July 1, 2026.
