The College Fix

Howard Forman has been caught spreading COVID misinformation

Yale University Professor Howard Forman has been caught spreading misinformation on Twitter.

Professor Forman, who teaches health policy and management at the Ivy League university, falsely claimed that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not been promoting the COVID vaccine and has been pushing a more expensive antibody treatment in its place.

“Ron DeSantis offering up Monoclonal antibodies that cost federal government $2,100/dose in lieu of vaccines that cost $39 dollars/full series,” Forman wrote last night on Twitter. “Your federal tax dollars at work bailing out Florida’s ‘freedoms’ and @GovRonDeSantis political hopes.”

Ron DeSantis offering up Monoclonal antibodies that cost federal government $2,100/dose in lieu of vaccines that cost $39 dollars/full series.

Your federal tax dollars at work bailing out Florida’s “freedoms” and @GovRonDeSantis political hopes. https://t.co/4YdeX76LRL

— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) August 12, 2021

Forman had quote-tweeted a post from DeSantis that discussed the development of an antibody treatment for coronavirus.

The assertion that the Republican governor has not promoted COVID vaccination received quick criticism on Twitter.

“This is an absolute lie. No other word for it, an absolute lie. Every CVS and Walgreens (among other places) here in Florida has signs letting people know they can come in for free COVID shots,” journalist John Cardillo wrote in response. “They also advertise it constantly on web, TV, and radio.”

“DeSantis has passionately promoted vaccines from the very beginning — rightly prioritizing seniors, thank goodness. Is your position that FL…shouldn’t also use effective therapeutics to treat infected people?” Townhall editor Guy Benson wrote in response to Forman.

DeSantis has passionately promoted vaccines from the very beginning — rightly prioritizing seniors, thank goodness. Is your position that FL…shouldn’t also use effective therapeutics to treat infected people? https://t.co/qeFjvFzZLr

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 13, 2021

An announcement from the governor’s office on August 12 said the state would be expanding access to the antibody treatment.

“I am proud to announce the opening of this rapid response unit to offer lifesaving monoclonal antibody therapies for Floridians,” DeSantis said in Jacksonville. “We also look forward to setting up a long-term site at the Jacksonville Public Library and additional long-term sites across the state. These treatments have been proven successful, with clinical trials resulting in a 70% reduction in hospitalization and death for COVID patients.”

Almost 90 percent of people ages 65 to 74 have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 84 percent of Floridians ages 75 to 84 have been vaccinated, according to data available as of August 10.

MORE: Unpaid Harvard nutritionist accuses DeSantis of covering up COVID deaths

IMAGE: Howard Forman/Twitter

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