Florida governor DeSantis reverses course, accepts FEMA vaccination sites in minority areas

DeSantis reverses course as Florida snags federal vaccine sites The four sites are expected to give a boost to areas that have most struggled to secure vaccines. Politico PRO

TALLAHASSEE — Florida is getting four federally-backed Covid-19 vaccination hubs in largely low-income communities of color, an announcement that comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis initially clashed with the Biden administration over federal vaccine help.

The new sites, which were announced Friday, will be in areas of Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami and Orlando picked through a federal vulnerability index that considered things like minority population, socioeconomic status and housing types. When up and running in roughly two weeks, the four sites are expected to collectively give 12,000 daily vaccines, giving a boost to areas that have most struggled to secure vaccines.

The four new federal vaccination locations were selected as part of a partnership between Florida, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each hub will be staffed predominantly by federal employees and have “spokes” that reach out to communities around the main vaccine location. Those locations will be selected by Florida officials.

The announcement was made through separate press releases sent by DeSantis’ office and the White House. DeSantis made no mention of the four new federally backed vaccination sites during a public event held shortly before they were announced. That event in Palm Beach County was set up by DeSantis’ taxpayer-funded office, but had the appearance of a campaign rally, including a cheering audience and at least one attendee wearing a shirt that said “Masks are Slavery.”

Last month, DeSantis dismissively referred to the Biden administration's planned vaccine sites as “FEMA camps.”

His administration has taken what it calls a “senior first” approach, focusing on elderly populations, including going on Fox and Friends to give shots to war veterans on live television. Florida has given more than 2.6 million vaccines, but, like other states, has faced criticism for racial disparities: only roughly 5 percent of vaccines have gone to Black residents.

The criticism intensified this week after DeSantis established a pop-up vaccine site in Lakewood Ranch, a wealthy, predominantly white Manatee County development. The move came one week after a task force set up to identify vaccination sites in minority communities said DeSantis’ office did not respond when they sent their blueprint. ...