Coronavirus

The federal government is mostly to blame for what some people see as a slow distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Florida, state Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz told a House panel Thursday.

Appearing before the newly created House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee, Moskowitz said the federal government has been slow in releasing enough supply to Florida to meet demand.

The Florida Legislature wants to stop scammers from taking advantage of people seeking vaccine doses. Fraudsters created fake internet pages designed to look like Pasco and Pinellas County Health Departments and charged money for fake vaccination appointments. And they aren’t the only ones. The Department of Legal Affairs Consumer and Protection Division has been contacted more than 14,000 to report COVID-19 related fraud. (R-Land O' Lakes) is the bill sponsor.

TALLAHASSEE --- A leading Senate Republican on Wednesday chided Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees about the state’s COVID-19 vaccine-distribution efforts, saying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration hasn't been forthcoming with the public.

Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, said during a meeting of the Senate Health Policy Committee that there is statewide frustration over the vaccine rollout and that Rivkees and Department of Health Assistant Secretary Shamarial Roberson need to provide the public with a “clear direction” about the state’s plans.

TALLAHASSEE --- Florida lawmakers have gotten a well-timed budget break thanks to a decision by the federal government to extend the nation’s public-health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar extended the public-health emergency last week.

Azar’s decision means the federal government will continue to allocate a 6.2 percentage-point increase in money for Medicaid, the joint federal-state health care program. Before the extension, the additional funding was slated to expire in March.

A study commissioned by a state government watchdog group says the absence of COVID-19 liability protections may have cost the state more than 16 billion dollars. The Florida tax watch report suggests more than 200,000 jobs could have been lost. The report comes amid an effort to shield businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis says the protection will help provide a boost to the economy by providing confidence for businesses to reopen.

Florida State University will offer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to students and employees who are 65 and older. The college says vaccine distribution could start as early as next week.

Graduation rates for Florida high school students ticked up last year, with 90 percent of students graduating, according to a state Department of Education report released last week.

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) has filed a bill to protect business from “frivolous” COVID-19-related lawsuits. Brandes says the measure is at the top of his agenda.

“This is one of the most important bills this session," said Brandes. "If we’re going to open the economy, we have to provide some level of protection for businesses so that they have certainty about what they are required to do to have a safe harbor against frivolous lawsuits.”

Floridians have been left confused and frustrated by the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. While most expected a unified distribution plan the responsibility has been passed on to the state’s 67 local health departments—which has led to a patchwork of policies. But Florida Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz says he thinks those kinks will soon get worked out. He spoke during a virtual press conference Wednesday.

Moskowitz says the scramble that’s happening during the first weeks of the vaccination distribution isn’t surprising.

Black faith-leaders across Florida are joining health experts in encouraging communities of color to get the COVID-19 vaccine. They've formed a task force to spread their message. Tallahassee pastor R.B. Holmes says he will lead by example and take the vaccine.

"All of us have buried, ministered, and comforted thousands of people who have died or dying from the virus; this is one battle that we cannot sit out," Holmes says.