Gov. Ron DeSantis Reverses Florida’s Vaccine Policy For Kids Following Pushback

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) will reverse his previous stance and allow healthcare providers to pre-order COVID-19 vaccines for children under five, the White House announced on Friday.

“We are encouraged that after repeated failures by Governor DeSantis to order COVID-19 vaccines even after every other state had ordered, the State of Florida is now permitting healthcare providers to order COVID-19 vaccines for our youngest children,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. “We believe it is critical to allow parents everywhere to have the choice to get their kids vaccinated and have a conversation with their pediatrician or healthcare provider.

However, DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw denied the report on Twitter.

“The The White House @PressSec & @McClatchyDC are both spreading disinformation. NOTHING has ‘reversed’ or changed. The State of Florida is not placing any orders of covid shots for 0-5-year-old babies & kids,” she wrote.

“What they have couched as a reversal is actually the Governor’s steadfast position that the State of Florida does not recommend nor distribute shots for babies,” Pushaw added. “Any healthcare provider that wants the vaccines can obtain them and any parent who wants it for their child can get it.”

Pushaw followed up on her statement by calling on the media to, “Retract your lies.”

DeSantis said earlier this week that if parents wanted to get their young children vaccinated, they could do it without the state’s help because Florida doesn’t support the vaccine for children that young. That would mean families could find vaccines at select community health centers or places that are a part of the federal program.