Outrage in Florida for ‘vaccine tourism’: they say it’s not allowed

The free Covid-19 vaccination campaign for those over 65 is drawing tourists to Florida from other parts of the United States, Canada, Latin America and, of course, Argentina. This fact provokes the indignation of many Floridians, who demanded an end to this “vaccine tourism”.

Several messages posted on Instagram by Yanina Latorre, who told live about her mother’s vaccination in Miami, triggered alarms which subsequently continued to ring, while other similar cases became known.

Miami Mayor Francis Suárez in a televised statement said it was “disgusting” for this to happen and vowed to investigate the matter.

The media are also collecting statements from ordinary citizens who have reacted with outrage and demanded priority for residents of a state where authorities keep repeating that the demand for vaccines is greater than availability and are asking people to patience.

The vaccination plan, which began in mid-December in Florida, is currently focused on front-line medical staff, residents of geriatric centers and those who care for them, as well as people over 65 who have to queue for hours at vaccination centers and grapple with computer systems to get appointments that are often planted.

Not only has Yanina Latorre made public her joy at having her mother, aged over 65, vaccinated in a stadium in the suburbs of Miami where a vaccine administration center has been operating since this week.

Former Time Warner President and CEO Richard Parsons told CNBC on Friday he traveled from New York to Florida for the vaccine and praised the southern state’s plan to vaccinate over 65.

“I don’t know how Florida is ahead of everyone else. You go online and you make the date and you get the date,” said Parsons, who is 72.

Asked by the media whether Florida is currently the mecca of “vaccine tourism,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said it was difficult to prevent those who do not reside here from turning up. get vaccinated, given the number of other parts of the United States and other countries that remain in the state or have vacation homes.

However, he said, “we discourage people from coming to Florida just to get the vaccine.”

“It is not allowed”

In a communication with the Clarín newspaper, a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the vaccination of tourists “has never been activated”.

“Restrictions on who receive the vaccine have always existed. It has never been activated (vaccination tourism). We regret the irresponsible attitude of some fellow citizens,” the sources added. This clarification comes in addition to an official “advice” from the government to “not travel overseas”, given the impending reduction in flight frequencies.