University of Miami Health System pediatrician Dr. Lisa Gwynn has been removed from a state-appointed board for publicly criticizing Florida’s decision to delay access to COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5, the Miami Herald reports.
Gwynn has been a vocal advocate of vaccine access for poor young kids which put her at odds with her state leaders who did not even pre-order COVID vaccines for children under 5-years-old–the only state in the country not to do so. DeSantis defended that decision arguing that the Florida Department of Health, led by Surgeon General Joe Ladapo, a prominent critic of COVID-19 vaccines, “has been very clear that the risk outweighs the benefits.”
On Wednesday, Gwynn received an email from Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis’ office informing her that she had been removed as a board member of Florida Healthy Kids.
Patronis’ office said in the email that Gwynn made “some very political statements that do not reflect the CFO’s point of view, even going so far as to say that the state is ‘obstruct(ing)’ access to vaccines. The CFO does not share your opinion and believes the state has gone to great lengths to protect lives in the face of the Coronavirus.”
Gwynn, who is also the president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has been very critical of Florida’s decision not to pre-order COVID vaccines for children under 5. She has appeared in several interviews since the Florida DOH made the decision but, she told the Miami Herald it was in her capacity as the president of the AAP chapter in Florida, and not as a board member of Florida Healthy Kids.
“Quite frankly, we’re just trying to advocate for things, for equitable access to the vaccine,” Gwynn said. “I’m not a politician, I’m a pediatrician. And there’s no other reason for me to do what I do other than to improve the health of children in our state.”
“I don’t like to play this game. That’s not my intent to engage in this political war,” she added.
“The decision to relieve Dr. Gwynn of her duties was made by the CFO, who has full authority over this appointment,” DeSantis’ spokesperson Christina Pushaw told the Miami Herald. “Our office did not need to give approval for this decision to be made, but the logic of the CFO’s decision is clear: A board member making public, false accusations about state policies runs the risk of jeopardizing the constructive working relationship between the Florida Healthy Kids board and the state agencies they work closely with, including DOH and AHCA.”
Parents in Florida can still vaccinate their young kids at CVS or other pharmacies that partner with the federal government.
