Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis Steve Cannon AP –
Gwynn denied using the term “obstruct.” However, she has been an outspoken critic of the state’s refusal to pre-order COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years, the only state to take such a stance. Florida pediatricians and parents criticized the decision, which Gov. Ron DeSantis argued was consistent with his administration’s position that vaccinating young children is “inappropriate.”
The vaccine for that age group is already available at pharmacies, community health centers and children’s hospitals. But Gwynn, who is also president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), noted that the vaccine is not yet available through county health departments, which is how many doctors have sought. its supply of COVID-19 vaccines for older populations.
Parents have mixed feelings about vaccinations. Some are actively seeking it for their children under the age of five, the last group authorized for COVID vaccines. Others are reluctant, concerned about whether enough research has been done on vaccines and their impact on young children.
Gwynn has been quoted by numerous local, state and national media outlets, including the Miami Herald. She said she has always spoken in her capacity as president of the Florida chapter of the AAP, and not as a member of the Florida Healthy Kids board of directors.
She added that her group had met with DeSantis’s chief of staff a few weeks ago to work on a resolution on the very issue she criticized that led Patronis to remove her from the board. She said the state’s response was that they would take her concerns to the governor.
A spokesman for DeSantis did not immediately comment on Gwynn’s firing Thursday afternoon.
Gwynn also underscored that while it is disappointing to step down from the board for what was supposed to be a three-year term, she had only attended one meeting in March since being appointed. She said she looks forward to continuing to advocate on behalf of pediatricians for equitable access to the vaccine.
“That is my intention, and if I am going to be removed from the board of directors for that, so be it,” he said.
This story was originally published on July 2, 2022 8:30 a.m.
–