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Florida suspends health official, investigates whether he broke vaccine law
The probe stems from an email he reportedly sent to staffers.
Author: Associated Press, 10 Tampa Bay
Published: 6:38 PM EST January 19, 2022
Updated: 6:38 PM EST January 19, 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. — A central Florida health official has been put on administrative leave as state officials investigate whether he tried to compel employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in violation of state law.
The state health agency is conducting an inquiry into Orange County health director Raul Pino.
...
“I am sorry but in the absence of reasonable and real reasons it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated,” Pino reportedly wrote. “We have been at this for two years, we were the first to give vaccines to the masses, we have done more than 300,000 and we are not even at 50% pathetic.”
A measure Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last fall prohibits government agencies from implementing vaccine mandates and restricts private businesses from having vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out for certain reasons. A Florida Department of Health spokesperson says the agency is working to determine whether Pino broke any laws.
“As the decision to get vaccinated is a personal medical choice that should be made free from coercion and mandates from employers, the employee in question (Pino) has been placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Health is conducting an inquiry to determine if any laws were broken in this case,” Health Department Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern told CBS affiliate WKMG...
Florida suspends health official, investigates whether he broke vaccine law
The probe stems from an email he reportedly sent to staffers.
Author: Associated Press, 10 Tampa Bay
Published: 6:38 PM EST January 19, 2022
Updated: 6:38 PM EST January 19, 2022
ORLANDO, Fla. — A central Florida health official has been put on administrative leave as state officials investigate whether he tried to compel employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in violation of state law.
The state health agency is conducting an inquiry into Orange County health director Raul Pino.
...
“I am sorry but in the absence of reasonable and real reasons it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated,” Pino reportedly wrote. “We have been at this for two years, we were the first to give vaccines to the masses, we have done more than 300,000 and we are not even at 50% pathetic.”
A measure Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last fall prohibits government agencies from implementing vaccine mandates and restricts private businesses from having vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out for certain reasons. A Florida Department of Health spokesperson says the agency is working to determine whether Pino broke any laws.
“As the decision to get vaccinated is a personal medical choice that should be made free from coercion and mandates from employers, the employee in question (Pino) has been placed on administrative leave, and the Florida Department of Health is conducting an inquiry to determine if any laws were broken in this case,” Health Department Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern told CBS affiliate WKMG...
