Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis Parts of the province of Florida are being evacuated over fears of the sewage reservoir collapsing. More GOP-Led States Risk Backlash from Companies Like Georgia’s Overnight Health Care: CDC Says Fully Vaccinated People Can Travel Safely | Biden complains about those pretending that COVID-19 is arguing about | Will vaccine passports be the biggest campaign issue of 2022? MORE (R) shot the “60 Minutes” coverage sharply, claiming he had funneled the state’s coronavirus vaccines into wealthy communities and privatized the rollout of vaccines to donors, while many minorities in the state struggle to gain access to an inoculation.
CBS reporter Sharyn Alfonsi presented a far-reaching report for “60 Minutes” Sunday night, critical of the vaccine’s introduction to Florida. Among other allegations, Alfonsi said DeSantis signed a contract to distribute coronavirus vaccines to the supermarket chain Publix after Publix made a $ 100,000 donation to its political action committee.
DeSantis declined a request for an interview, Alfonsi said, but she caught up with him at an event south of Orlando.
“As you know, Publix donated $ 100,000 to your campaign and then you awarded them the exclusive rights to distribute the vaccine in Palm Beach,” Alfonsi told the governor.
“So first of all, what you’re saying is wrong,” DeSantis replied. ‘That’s a fake story. I met with the mayor of the county. I met with the administrator. I met with all the people in Palm Beach County and I said, ‘Here are some of the options. We can do more drive thru sites. We can give more to hospitals, we can do the Publix. ‘And they said,’ We think that would be easiest for our residents. ‘ ”
Alfonsi insisted on DeSantis, saying his critics say the unfair distribution of vaccines and the awarding of the contract to the supermarket to distribute the vaccine amount to a “pay for play” arrangement.
“It’s wrong, it’s a fake story,” said DeSantis. ‘I just took the story from you and you don’t care about the facts because I have set it out clearly for you in a way that is undeniable. So it clearly isn’t. ‘
Alfonsi tried to get back in, but DeSantis shouted over her, “No no no you’re wrong, you’re wrong.”
“What you’re saying is wrong,” Governor DeSantis told Sharyn Alfonsi in response to a question as to whether the Publix supermarket chain has gained influence through a campaign donation on his behalf. “It’s wrong. It’s a fake story,” he says. https://t.co/gyrW9hYPTg pic.twitter.com/5rBq7v5VOA
– 60 minutes (@ 60 minutes) April 4, 2021
Publix told “60 Minutes” that there is no link between the supermarket chain’s campaign contributions and its collaboration with the state to administer the vaccine.
State Representative Omari Hardy (D) told “60 minutes” that DeSantis’ decision to privatize the introduction of the vaccine has not worked for people of color in the state.
She pointed to a low-income community with no Publix, meaning residents, including older residents, would have to travel nearly 30 miles to get a vaccine.
“I used to be able to call the director of public health. She answered my calls. But now if I want to get my constituents information on how to get this vaccine, I should call a Publix lobbyist? . “They are not accountable to the public.”
The allegations regarding Publix come because DeSantis is already under fire for the vaccine rollout in Florida. He has been accused of channeling vaccine doses into wealthy white communities and sending pop-up vaccine sites to communities linked to political donors.