icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
30 Dec, 2020 21:21

‘Whoop dee doo’: Florida governor says he’s not priority for Covid vaccine, seniors and doctors should get the jab first

‘Whoop dee doo’: Florida governor says he’s not priority for Covid vaccine, seniors and doctors should get the jab first

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he shouldn’t get ahead of seniors and medical workers in line for the coronavirus vaccine just because he’s an elected official, and will take it when there’s enough supply for people under 45.

“I’m willing to take it, but I’m not the priority. They are the priority” the governor said, pointing to people around him, while visiting a retirement community in Delray Beach on Wednesday. 

“People under 45, they’re not going to be first in line for this,” DeSantis said. “Granted I’m an elected official, but whoop dee doo. At the end of the day, let’s focus [on] where the risk is.”

The governor said he wanted his parents and people’s grandparents to be able to get vaccinated, and that he’ll take the shots later, when it’s his turn.

DeSantis, a Republican, was visiting the Kings Point retirement community amid reports that interest in the two currently available vaccines in the US is far exceeding the available supply. Florida’s vaccination plan had healthcare workers and residents of care facilities first in line for the shots, which the governor expanded last week to citizens aged 65 and older.

Also on rt.com New York healthcare provider probed for ‘fraudulently’ obtaining & distributing Covid-19 vaccine

Hospitals and health departments are receiving the vaccines direct from the federal government , eliminating the middlemen, the governor explained. 

“If you are over 65, you will get access. It may not be today or next week but as long as there is supply, you will have the opportunity to get them,” DeSantis said, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

The first US vaccine against the novel coronavirus, made by Pfizer,  was approved on December 11. Moderna’s vaccine was approved a week later. A number of elected officials have since taken the vaccines on camera to encourage Americans to do the same, starting with Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), and Dr. Anthony Fauci. 

President-elect Joe Biden, who is 78, and his running mate Kamala Harris, 56, both got vaccinated as well. 

Also on rt.com 'That was easy': Kamala Harris latest official to get Covid-19 vaccine in front of cameras (VIDEO)

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

Podcasts
0:00
28:20
0:00
27:33