Ron DeSantis says Florida’s 4.4 million seniors will get vaccinated against Covid in front of essential workers, as he ignores CDC advice to inoculate both groups in the same wave
- CDC-recommended essential workers should be vaccinated with seniors
- But the Florida governor decided that his large population should be protected first
- Front-line health workers still have priority, but older residents are next
- DeSantis said vaccines should be targeted at those most at risk
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that priority will be given to seniors in the state for the Covid vaccine over essential workers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that essential workers receive the jab in the same wave as those aged 70 and over.
But DeSantis ignored his guidance and said the 4.4 million seniors need protection first.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that state seniors will be given priority for the Covid vaccine over essential workers
Annie Quick, of Crestview, 88, receives Pfizer from a CVS Health pharmacist at the Silvercrest Health and Rehabilitation Center on Monday
Florida reported 79,221 new cases last week, close to the state’s record high of 80,236 in July.
Speaking from the villages when people were receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine, he said, “We will not put healthy young workers ahead of our vulnerable large population.
“Vaccines will be targeted at those places where the risk is greatest, and that is in our large population.”
The governor also acknowledged that there will be difficulties in vaccinating the entire large population of the state in front of essential workers such as teachers.
He said: “We will not have 4.4 million doses over the next six weeks.
Florida saw 79,221 new cases last week, close to the state’s record high of 80,236 in July
“We’ll probably have a couple of million of them, so what I’d say to the big population will be reserved for you. It’ll be here soon. Stay tuned.
About 4.4 million Florida residents are over 65 and more than 3 million are over 70, DeSantis said.
Florida is still in the 1st phase of the vaccination launch, with officials distributing the Pfizer and Moderna blows, which require two doses.
Currently, the first doses are intended for health workers and residents in long-term care centers before the next stage of the mass vaccination program.
Natalie Dean, an infectious disease expert and professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, said the decision on who to vaccinate next is an act of balancing the protection of people most at risk for serious outcomes or exposure.
He said the data suggest that vaccinating older people prevents more deaths, but vaccinating young people slows down the transmission of the virus.
He told the Tampa Bay Times: ‘Obviously, there is a big differential in the risk of serious illness depending on age, so the opportunity to prevent this mortality and directly protect older adults is important.
What pandemic? In Florida a crowded scene is depicted when DeSantis decided to keep the restaurants open
“By contrast, older adults are better able to behave prudently and stay home. Essential workers can’t.”
Last week, DeSantis declared he would keep restaurants open amid the pandemic and criticized New York for suspending indoor food, as shocking photos show state bars full of people without masks drinking and dancing.
The governor defended the restaurants during a press conference inside Okeechobee Steakhouse in West Palm Beach, the state’s oldest restaurant.
“At a time when people in our service industries, particularly in restaurants, lodging and hospitality, have brought it to the chin, especially in some other states that have been completely closed, we just want to send the message, it’s possible let some close you down. We want to throw you up, “DeSantis said, punching New York.
Florida restaurants, bars and nightclubs were allowed to reopen at full capacity in late September despite the threat of the virus.