TALLAHASSEE – Governor Ron DeSantis is not impressed by President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to call on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help launch the vaccine in the country.
During a press conference in Cape Coral on Tuesday, DeSantis said Biden’s plan to use the federal disaster agency and the National Guard to build COVID-19 vaccine clinics across the country would be a “big mistake”.
“I saw some of those things that Biden is publicizing, that he is going to create these FEMA camps, I can say, that is not necessary in Florida,” he said. “We just need more vaccine. Just give us more vaccine. “
“Trying to reinvent the wheel at this point, I think it would be a big mistake,” added DeSantis. “The more bureaucracy involved, the worse it will be.”
The comments were the first to make the Florida governor about the next government’s vaccine plans. Contrary to President Donald Trump’s approach to allowing states to distribute vaccines, which has been slower than expected in obtaining vaccines, Biden said last week that he would speed up the process by asking for federal aid.
“Our plan will focus on putting the shots on the guns, including launching a fundamentally new approach, establishing thousands of community-run vaccination centers administered or supported by the federal government of various sizes located in places like NFL school stadiums and stadiums” , said Biden said during an interview with WFXE-FM in Columbus, Ga., according to The New York Times.
DeSantis, a Trump ally, also faced intense criticism about the slow and confusing launch of the vaccine in the state. But he rejected Biden’s idea.
“Think about it: if you come in and tell FEMA to create some kind of camp, how long will it take?” DeSantis said. “So are you going to divert vaccines from my efforts here?”
“I worry the more they try to control the application of this, I think it will be very problematic,” added DeSantis. “They must use their ability and authority to get more vaccines for people.”
DeSantis was originally asked if he had spoken to the Biden administration about the vaccine plan. DeSantis did not say.
“I have no reading on this,” he said.
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