Governor Ron DeSantis and the differences in the deployment of the coronavirus vaccine in Florida aired Sunday’s episode of 60 Minute, the weekly CBS news program that attracts more than 9 million viewers.
Reporter Sharyn Alfonsi compared the state’s vaccination to the book and film series “The Hunger Games”, citing examples in which affluent communities gained priority access to the vaccine, including at Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County.
The segment also questions the state’s plan to distribute doses via Publix in light of a $ 100,000 donation by the Lakeland grocery chain to a DeSantis PAC weeks before vaccination.
A spokesman for Publix denied to the program that there was any connection between political donations and the distribution of vaccines, calling the claim “irresponsible”. So did DeSantis, who did not want to appear on the show but called the pay-for-play allegations a ‘false story’ when Alfonsi confronted him south of Orlando.
Jared Moskowitz, director of Florida’s emergency management division, tweeted in the news program Sunday night, saying: ‘I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. @Publix was recommended by @FLSERT and @GesondFla as the other pharmacies were not ready to start. Period! Point! No one from the Governors’ Office suggested Publix. This is just absolute malarkey. ”
The segment focused on Palm Beach County, where, according to the program, the affluent city of Palm Beach received 1,000 doses of an early, limited supply. The province is also home to the Belle Glade area, a bag of low-income, mostly black and Latino communities, where the nearest Publix is 40 km away.
“At the beginning of this pandemic, black people, Hispanics, people of color, we carried the full force of this pandemic,” Rep. Omari Hardy, D-West Palm Beach, said about the program. ‘Over-represented in the hospitalizations. Overrepresented in the deaths. And now, at the back of the pandemic, we also carry the full force of it. Because we do not have the same access to the vaccine. ”
The segment builds on previous coverage by various Florida media outlets.
Vaccinations for Wealthy Florida
Publix distribution
Reactions from Florida politicos rolled along party lines Sunday night. Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist said in a statement that the 60 minutes report was “horrible.”
“In the government of DeSantis in Florida, money and power rule, and everyone else is at the back of the queue,” Crist van St. Petersburg said. ‘This insensitive, cruel and ruthless policy makes Hunger Games an appropriate metaphor. ”
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said 60 minutes was to expose ‘the nation’ to DeSantis ’failures.
State Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby, a Democrat with Manatee County, said she had questions for the governor.
A GOP official from Florida was no fan, calling the segment a ‘hit piece’.
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