In what was news to Gov. Ron DeSantis and his team, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre boldly declared on Friday that Florida had “reversed course and will now let docs and hospitals order vaccines for young patients”:
NEW: After outcry from doctors, and federal questions about @GovRonDeSantis' refusal to pre-order pediatric vaccines, White House says governor has reversed course and will now let docs and hospitals order vaccines for young patients. by @mawilner https://t.co/QBO9EwhBgu
— Mary Ellen Klas (@MaryEllenKlas) June 17, 2022
This was a follow-up to the Miami Herald story we told you about on Thursday saying Florida was the only state that didn’t pre-order the pediatric Covid vaccine:
ICYMI: Florida has yet to request delivery of COVID-19 pediatric vaccines for children under 5, missing yesterday’s deadline for pre-orders and guaranteeing a delay in access for parents across the state, according to two U.S. government sources. https://t.co/ipm8PqibWL https://t.co/RGfvXbD6bh
— Miami Herald (@MiamiHerald) June 15, 2022
Gov. DeSantis said yesterday, in response to that Miami Herald story, “Doctors can get it. Hospitals can get it. But there’s not going to be any state programs that are going to be trying to get COVID jabs to infants and toddlers and newborns.”
DeSANTIS: "Doctors can get it. Hospitals can get it. But there's not going to be any state programs that are going to be trying to get COVID jabs to infants and toddlers and newborns." https://t.co/TbP12skqaW
— Newsmax (@newsmax) June 17, 2022
This means the statement by KJP today that Florida had “reversed course” is just not true and team DeSantis is pushing back hard on the White House’s claim:
This is a lie. Health care providers were always able to order the vaccine.
Here's a quick link setting the record straight for your convenience😀https://t.co/RXe3uyDxvv https://t.co/k5YXod0UDH
— Florida Dept. of Health (@HealthyFla) June 17, 2022
“This is a bold face lie,” tweeted press secretary Christina Pushaw:
This is a bold faced lie. https://t.co/yhx2MRnyFv
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 17, 2022
Here’s the full statement from Jean-Pierre:
“We are encouraged that after repeated failures by Gov DeSantis to order COVID-19 vaccines even after every other state had ordered, the State of Florida is now permitting health care providers to order COVID-19 vaccines for our youngest children. 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 health care provider. Even though Governor DeSantis reversed course and is now ordering vaccines, we will pull every lever to get pediatricians across Florida vaccines as quickly as possible.”
And the only thing that changed between Thursday and today is that the FDA authorized it:
No state policy change in Florida. The only thing that’s changed was the federal government (FDA) issued the EUA for the shots today.
Obviously, there must be FDA approval or an EUA for the system to process orders from healthcare providers.
Retract your lies.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 17, 2022
Pushaw confirmed that the State of Florida “is not placing any orders of covid shots for 0-5 year old babies & kids”:
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.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 17, 2022
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. Any healthcare provider that wants the vaccines can obtain them and any parent who wants it for their child can get it.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 17, 2022
But then the White House doubled down on their original claim with a weasely statement from Covid coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha who wouldn’t say if there was a reversal or not but did say “something clearly changed between yesterday and today in the state of Florida”:
Dr. Jha responds to question about @ChristinaPushaw saying FL hasn't reversed course. Jha says yesterday pediatricians in every state but Florida could order directly from feds. Today they can in FL. “Something clearly changed between yesterday and today in the state of Florida” https://t.co/UvFqxvywmq
— Zac Anderson (@zacjanderson) June 17, 2022
Yeah, well, what changed was yesterday the vaccine wasn’t approved and today it is. That’s why doctors can order it today and not yesterday:
Blatant lie. Florida has ALWAYS consistently allowed pediatricians and private providers to order vaccines. NOTHING has changed state side. What has changed, is that the WH is spiraling & the fed. gov. finally got FDA approval (reminder: they walked back approval in February.) https://t.co/5ZDj6YzUsr
— Taryn Fenske (@tarynfenske) June 17, 2022
It’s not a good look:
The Biden Administration got caught in a lie (or made a mistake) and is now grasping at straws instead of owning up to their mistake. Nothing changed between yesterday and today in terms of state policy in Florida. But it’s weird anyone would be able to order a shot before EUA. https://t.co/tptPueHcDV
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 17, 2022
We all know why the White House did this:
Healthcare providers have never been able to order vaccines that aren't approved by the FDA.
FDA approval came today, NATIONWIDE.
WHY would the White House try to characterize this as a reversal?
➡️Dishonest political swipes among abysmal approval ratings.
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) June 17, 2022
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