A pair of COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinics in Lakewood Ranch and Charlotte County are drawing complaints of political favoritism, with the issue roiling the Manatee County Commission on Tuesday as officials complained that residents in two ZIP codes were given preferential treatment.
The Lakewood Ranch clinic kicks off Wednesday, lasts for three days and is limited to residents in two ZIP codes in wealthier, whiter and strongly Republican areas of Manatee County. Those ZIP codes include communities developed by the politically connected Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and represented by GOP commission Chairwoman Vanessa Baugh, who is closely aligned with Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Wednesday threatened to divert coronavirus vaccines from communities that criticize his distribution efforts. DeSantis made the remarks at a news conference amid criticism that he arranged for seniors in two wealthy neighborhoods to be given priority vaccine access, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported."If Manatee County doesn't like us doing this, we are totally fine with putting this in counties that want.
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