Florida is better off without a detailed vaccination plan, says DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis and senior Hernando County Republican lawmaker on Wednesday defended the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in Florida, saying the state was 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,” State Representative Blaise Ingoglia said at a news conference in Brooksville where DeSantis announced a new vaccination site for people. aged 65 and over.

“What other states are wrong, I believe this governor is right.”

Two things make Florida stand out when it comes to vaccine deployment: It is one of only two states to prioritize residents 65 years and older in its first phase of distribution, and it is the only state that did not specifically tell residents who will get vaccinated after this group.

Critics said the latter distinction has caused confusion and added to the uncertainty surrounding vaccines.

On Tuesday, the governor suggested that teachers and law enforcement officers 50 and older will then have access to the shots. But he gave no further details, using the words “probably” and “I think” to describe who would qualify.

Facing questions from reporters on Wednesday, DeSantis said details of the teachers and police gunfire will not be announced until next week.

He did not respond to a question about the lack of a full distribution plan in Florida. Instead, he touted the state’s vaccination rate for seniors and criticized other states for updating their plans over time.

“If you notice, a lot of these (states) have passed plans, then they’ve had to change the plans already,” DeSantis said. “We didn’t do that.”

Ingoglia praised DeSantis for prioritizing seniors and making sure they get vaccinated, saying other states have started to follow his lead.

As of this week, Florida had vaccinated nearly 2 million of its residents aged 65 and over, according to state data. About 75 percent of the 2.7 million shots administered in the state went to this group.

Other groups identified as priorities for vaccination by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – such as essential workers and people under 65 who have underlying medical conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID – 19 – still waiting not only for vaccines, but also for clear information on when they could receive them.

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