DeSantis threatens to remove Manatee County vaccines after residents question location

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – After reporting that Gov. Ron DeSantis contacted a politically connected developer and offered to establish an exclusive vaccination site for residents of Lakewood Ranch and other affluent neighborhoods in Manatee County, the governor threatened to withdraw vaccines in the area and move them to other parts of the state if residents continue to complain.

Vaccines are reserved only for residents of two zip codes, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which cover most of the Manatee County portion of Lakewood Ranch and other richer neighborhoods that have not been affected as strongly as other parts of the county. .

DeSantis was asked about the community criticism that followed Tuesday’s report during a press conference on Wednesday.

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“I mean, if in Manatee County we don’t like us doing this, we’re completely fine with putting that in counties that want it,” DeSantis said. “And we’re totally happy to do it, so whoever says it, let us know if you want us to send it to Sarasota next time, or to Charlotte, or to Pasco, wherever you want, let us know we’re happy to do it.” “But I think most people, if we have the opportunity to bring vaccines and do it efficiently, I think they will.”

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was quick to condemn DeSantis’ statements.

“There is no reason why Governor DeSantis should ration vaccines based on political influence,” Fried said in a press release. “This is worrying and potentially illegal. Vaccines should be distributed to counties based on need, capacity, and science. While I am disappointed that the governor is using vaccines as a political tool, I plan to work with the Biden Administration to ensure that Floridians are not penalized for their actions and continue to increase the distribution of vaccines to all communities, so we can get our economy up and running and the state works again. “

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DeSantis said Wednesday that the vaccination site set up at Lakewood Ranch’s Premier Sports Campus is meant to address the high concentration of seniors living in the area. DeSantis rejected claims the site had created because the community developer and community residents supported it politically.

“One zip code wasn’t chosen for another,” DeSantis said. “We wanted to find communities that had high levels of seniors, that lived there, and that obviously had a high concentration.”

Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh told the Times that the process of implementing the new vaccination site began when DeSantis called Rex Jensen, the developer of the community planned for Lakewood Ranch.

“People have to look at the statistics. There have been other clinics and many people in the east have not received the vaccines and are poorly cared for. I see it as a win-win, ”Baugh told the Bradenton Herald. “It’s not a negative situation.”

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About 3,000 senior residents will receive the vaccine over the next three days. Recently, the state created community “pods” similar to The Villages and Sun City Center.

“If there are people who will complain about getting more vaccines, you know, I’ll tell you what, I mean, I wouldn’t complain, I’d appreciate it if we could do it because, you know what, we didn’t have to do it at all,” he said. dir DeSantis.