Gov. Ron DeSantis and Hernando County’s chief Republican lawmaker on Wednesday defended the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in Florida, saying the state is a national leader in the effort and touting the lack of a detailed plan as a plus.
“We are approaching this pandemic in a way that other states are not,” said State Representative Blaise Ingoglia at a news conference in Brooksville where DeSantis announced a new vaccination site for seniors 65 and older.
“What other states are wrong, I believe this governor is right.”
Two things make Florida stand out when it comes to the introduction of vaccines: It is one of only two states that prioritize residents 65 and older in the first stage of distribution, and it is the only state that allows residents did not specifically tell who was after that group after the vaccination.
Critics have said the latter distinction has caused confusion and increased uncertainty around vaccines.
On Tuesday, the governor suggested that teachers and law enforcement officers 50 and older be given access to shots subsequently. But he did not provide additional details and used the words “likely” and “I think” to describe who would be eligible.
DeSantis was faced with questions from reporters on Wednesday and said details about gunshots to teachers and police will not be revealed until next week.
He did not answer a question about the lack of a comprehensive Florida distribution plan. Instead, he praised the state’s vaccination rates for seniors and criticized other states for updating their plans over time.
“If you notice, a lot of those (states) have adopted plans, and then they already had to change the plans,” DeSantis said. “We didn’t.”
Ingoglia praised DeSantis for prioritizing seniors and making sure they get photos, saying other states have started to follow suit.
As of this week, Florida had vaccinated nearly 2 million residents 65 and older, state data shows. About 75 percent of the 2.7 million shots delivered in the state had gone to that group.
Other groups identified as priorities for vaccination by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – such as essential workers and those under age 65 with underlying medical conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID-19 – are still not just waiting for shots, but also on release notes as to when they might receive them.
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