The Reason Publix Might Be In Legal Trouble For Its Vaccine Distribution Partnership

With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway, we all can't wait to get the jab and start enjoying life again. According to Becker's Hospital Review, over 18 percent of all Americans have received the vaccination and those numbers should continue to rapidly increase over the coming months. On the whole, the country continues to get more people immunized against COVID, but states' unique approaches toward mass inoculation have the ability to accelerate or slow down these efforts. Florida's governor Ron DeSantis found himself in some hot water due to an accusation regarding his methods of distributing the vaccine through Publix grocery locations. 

In a tweet from 60 Minutes, reporters claim that DeSantis agreed to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine through Publix locations after the grocery store donated $100,000 to his PAC. According to The Hill, Both DeSantis and Publix have denied the allegations, while contending with claims that DeSantis has steered the Florida vaccine rollout into affluent, homogenous communities associated with political donors. For Florida residents, this scandalous claim comes as a serious accusation, as many low income communities don't have a local Publix, and the closest location could require some to drive 30 miles to get a shot.

The pushback from the governor has proven quite aggressive. According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, DeSantis has vehemently defended Publix locations as a primary vaccination center. "That's a fake narrative," DeSantis said, in response to the accusation. "I met with the county mayor, I met with the administrator, I met with all the folks in Palm Beach County and I said here's some of the options: We can do more drive through sites, we can give more to hospitals, we can do the Publix. And they said we think that would be the easiest thing for our residents."

Only time can tell what happens next in the Florida vaccine rollout. If you find yourself eligible for vaccination, make sure to take advantage of your closest inoculation center and begin taking the steps towards resuming everyday life. With any luck, we can all get our shots sooner rather than later and end up in a much healthier place.