DeSantis defends Florida over lack of detailed vaccine distribution plan

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) defended his state’s vaccine distribution plan Wednesday, after critics argued that it didn’t have enough detail or structure, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Sunshine State is following a one-step-at-a-time approach as it works to vaccinate its population. From the beginning, DeSantis has vowed to prioritize those who are 65 and older but hasn’t provided many details about who else may be next up.

DeSantis argued Wednesday during a press conference that not following a structured plan has worked in the state’s favor, as it’s giving them more flexibility to adapt as they go.

“If you notice, a lot of those (states) adopted plans, and then they’ve already had to change the plans,” DeSantis said, according to the Times. “We haven’t done that.”

On Tuesday, DeSantis signaled that educators and law enforcement officers aged 50+ could be up next for priority, but didn’t share any substantial details, which he said will come some time next week, the Times reports.

State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia echoed DeSantis’s sentiments about Florida’s lax vaccine plan, saying, “We are approaching this pandemic in ways that other states are not.”

He continued, “What other states are getting wrong, I believe that this governor is getting right.”

Florida has vaccinated 2,792,118 people to date, and 1,492,509 of those people have received both doses, according to the state’s Department of Health.