After directing a letter to President Joe Biden (D) asking his Administration to loosen its hold on the monoclonal antibody treatment, in Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) celebrated the increasing number of vaccinations in the state. So far, 56% of the state has been vaccinated.
However, the 2022 gubernatorial hopeful also criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), arguing that he has contributed to the alleged COVID-19 “disinformation,” and directed verbal jabs at Surgeon General Joe Ladapo.
During an appearance at Florida A&M University, Commissioner Fried said that “the people of the state of Florida need to be congratulated for finally listening to the calls and listening to all of our recommendations of the last eight weeks, asking people to get vaccinated.” These calls have cumulatively amounted to 56% of the state receiving a vaccination, and it comes during a time when the Sunshine State is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The comments from Fried come a couple of days after the press conference held by Governor DeSantis wherein he announced that Joe Ladapo would be Florida’s new Surgeon General.
Ladapo has drawn criticism from political pundits for espousing similar views to Governor DeSantis regarding COVID-19.
In response to Ladapo’s appointment, Fried only commented that “it seems like the Governor went out of his way to find him and bring him to Florida.”
“The Surgeon General is supposed to be a very important job,” Fried added, noting that “it leads the direction of our health care policies.” “
She concluded by saying that “it is important that we have an administrator that believes in public health, that works and does everything possible to promote safe reliable medicines.”
During the press conference with Governor DeSantis earlier this week, Ladapo addressed the people of Florida, saying that the state “will completely reject fear as a way of making policies in public health” before reaffirming that “we are done with fear.”
