Let me say it again, CBS: Take the L.
Supporters, critics, and Democrats defended Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis against the 60 Minutes hit piece alleging he engaged in a “pay for play” scheme with Publix over COVID vaccines.
Now CBS News claims its report concentrated on minorities not having access to the vaccines.
CBS News continues to stand by its false report:
“Last week’s 60 Minutes story was about the vaccine roll-out to seniors in Palm Beach County and focused on a lack of access for minority communities,” CBS began. “Governor DeSantis’ comments about this piece do not acknowledge that his senior constituents in the Glades did not have easy access to a Publix for the vaccine. The Glades is an underserved portion of Palm Beach County with a population of 31,000 that was the focus of the 60 Minutes report.”The statement stressed that Publix was the “only” pharmacy in Palm Beach County to have access to the vaccine in January, when “the mostly Black and Hispanic senior residents of the Glades would need to drive 25 miles if they had a car or take a bus ride to the nearest pharmacy.” The statement added that many residents of the Glades “do not own a computer or a smartphone.”
DeSantis listed numerous places that had the vaccines during a Wednesday press conference. CBS had an excuse:
CBS News dismissed the list of hospitals, health care facilities, faith-based centers, and pop-up sites DeSantis presented at a press conference earlier Wednesday, insisting they were “not available to most seniors in Palm Beach County in January and part of February” and that a “majority” still have to rely on Publix to get the vaccine.”The Governor referenced CVS and Walgreens, however vaccines did not reach those pharmacies in the Glades until late February for CVS and mid-March for Walgreens, well after the Governor began distributing the vaccine with Publix on Jan 21, 2021,” CBS News stated, alluding to the federal program that targeted long-term care communities. “For this reason, the Governor’s comments about CVS and Walgreens were not included in the original broadcast.”
The latest CBS News statement ignores a major fact from Florida State Emergency Director Jared Moskowitz, who happens to be a Democrat:
Jared Moskowitz, the outgoing director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, said that when the state needed to open up more COVID-19 vaccinations faster in late December and early January, he reached out to Walmart first about a potential partnership. But the company said it wouldn’t be ready to go for 21 days.“I then got on the phone with Publix,” Moskowitz said. “And I said, when can you start? 72 hours. That’s it! That’s the whole story!”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY