COVID-19 “Florida is booming. It would not be booming if it was shut down. Los Angeles isn’t booming. New York City’s not booming. It’s booming here because you can live like a human being. Florida is one of the only states that said no to oppressive lockdowns and has become an oasis of freedom for Americans.” Since last December, when the first Florida vaccine shipment was distributed, DeSantis set policy to phase in the vaccination of priority populations: Florida residents 65 and up, long-term care facilities staff, residents and frontline workers were first. It also happened to be the start of snowbird season and sparked complaints and controversial resentment from some local Floridians about unfair “vaccine tourism” − mostly Canadian snowbirds and seasonal out-of-state visitors flying in and jumping in line at Florida vaccination centres. Again, the gung-ho Florida governor came out strong and swinging. He affirmed that the state wouldnot turn away seasonal residents. “We’re a transient state. People who live here for four or five months a year, have relationships with doctors and they get medical care here.” He set policy that anyone who owns property and lives in Florida at least part time, and meets the age criteria, would be asked for proof of residency or semi-permanent residency (a utility bill, property tax receipt or a lease agreement) to qualify for the vaccine. He added that casual visitors would no longer be eligible. In early March, while Ontario and Quebec snowbirds were plugged in for vaccine (and quarantine) updates from home, DeSantis announced that Florida residents younger than 65 deemedmedically vulnerable, healthcare personnel with direct patient contact, 50+ -year-old school employees, law enforcement officers and firefighters were next. By the end of March, everyone 40+ was eligible and, by early April, all 18+ residents became eligible. The Pfizer vaccine was authorized for 16+ and both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were authorized for 18+. Inmid-April (based on the sudden CDC and FDA recommendations), Florida temporarily paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccinations. After a year of hanging tough and, despite a barrage of punches and counter-punches from political rivals, media and even latenight comedians, the firebrand Florida governor is now the public opinion winner! Maybe not quite by unanimous decision, but DeSantis is standing tall among other governors in the dragged-out COVID fight. He certainly claims high marks, in spite of taking ongoing sucker punches like the recent 60 Minutes segment investigating how and why some wealthy DeSantis campaign donors in yacht clubs, golf courses and gated Florida communities such as Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota and Pelican Bay in Naples were given special access to the vaccine. Like a good heavyweight rope-a-doper, he shrugged it off as “a fake narrative.” Public opinion forever matters as a fickle and delicate fact of public life, and optics count. Governor Ron DeSantis did receive a single-dose vaccine in early April, although his office declined to comment why the jab was strategically administered discreetly, in private. Canadian snowbirds are now thinking about 2022 and looking back on how home-awayfrom-home Florida handled the menacing pandemic. And the governor’s gutsy defiance continues. Businesses, beaches, golf courses, restaurants and schools are all open andmore than six million people have now received at least one vaccine dose. For now, public opinion is shining on Governor DeSantis and, by all indications, snowbirds are impressed. Will his defiance of lockdowns and closures brand him Florida’s COVID hero or villain? Time (and variants) will tell. Governor Ron DeSantis visits The Villages February 20, 2019 CSANews | SPRING 2021 | 45
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