DeSantis administration puts Florida health director on leave for encouraging vaccinations for his staff – “I have a hard time understanding how we can be in public health and not practice it”
By Frank Gluck
19 January 2022
(Fort Myers News-Press) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, already facing criticism for downplaying the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations, has put on leave Orange County Health Director Dr. Raul Pino for encouraging his staff to get vaccinated.
Pino had written in a 4 January 2022 email to his staff: “I have a hard time understanding how we can be in public health and not practice it,” WMFE, a public radio station in Orlando, reported.
In an email Wednesday to the USA TODAY Network-Florida, DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw referred to a health department statement on the decision to put Pino on leave:
“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 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.
“The Department is committed to upholding all laws, including the ban on vaccine mandates for government employees and will take appropriate action once additional information is known.”
Dr. Raul Pino has been our trusted partner and friend throughout the pandemic. His sound medical advice has helped guide me and countless other Orange County leaders to make the best decisions possible in dealing with COVID-19. It is my fervent hope that Dr. Pino returns to work on behalf of the residents of Orange County soon.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings
Pino’s email to his staff detailed that only 219 of his 568 staff members had received two doses. “I am sorry but in the absence of reasonable and real reasons it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated. 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,” he wrote.
DeSantis and his state surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, have questioned the efficacy of masks and vaccines. The state’s Department of Health also has advised against testing for people who have no symptoms, stating, “COVID-19 testing is unlikely to have any clinical benefits.”
DeSantis, whose wife has been diagnosed with potentially immunity-compromising breast cancer, has also refused to say if he has received a vaccine booster. Last week, in an apparent swipe at DeSantis, former President Donald Trump called out “gutless” politicians who refuse to say if they’ve gotten a booster.
In its year-end message to the public, Florida’s Department of Health touted its success in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic but left unmentioned vaccinations, booster shots and masks – measures disease experts say offer the best chance of containing a pandemic now in its fourth deadly wave in the state. [more]
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings: “It is my fervent hope that Dr. Pino returns to work … soon.”
By Stephen Hudak
19 January 2022
(Orlando Sentinel) – Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, isolated at home because of a COVID-19 infection, offered his support Wednesday for Dr. Raul Pino, who was placed on administrative leave from his post as the state’s chief health officer in the county.
“Dr. Raul Pino has been our trusted partner and friend throughout the pandemic,” the mayor said in a statement emailed from his communications team. “His sound medical advice has helped guide me and countless other Orange County leaders to make the best decisions possible in dealing with COVID-19.”
“It is my fervent hope that Dr. Pino returns to work on behalf of the residents of Orange County soon,” Demings said.
Pino, 58, who has led the Health Department in Orange County since May 2019, is facing a state investigation related to a staff-wide email he sent Jan. 4. The email revealed that fewer than 14% of the 568 employees in the county Health Department had been fully vaccinated with a complete series and booster shot. […]
In the email to staff, Pino expressed frustration with the staff’s low vaccination rate amid an infection surge blamed on the omicron variant.
His email bore a subject line of “Concerned for us and our families!” He wrote:
“I have a hard time understanding how can we be in public health and not practice it! The reasons can be many, but so many of us?
“In order to have a better picture on how this current wave could affect us and the people we served, I ask our analyst to run vaccination data for our employee; shocker! The total number of active staff for FDOH Orange is 568. It appears that 77 employees (excluding contractors and interns) have received their booster dose of vaccine (SUPER LOW), and 219 employees have a complete vaccine series (not even 50%). 34 have only one dose of vaccine (missing second dose and booster).
“With those numbers we should expect many of us to get sick and be a vector between the workplace and our families, and to impact the clients we serve. To be precise, yesterday we have to cancel all prenatal appointments in a clinic because the lack of providers. I am sorry, but at this point, in the absence of reasonable and real reasons, it is irresponsible not to be vaccinated. 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 (OCDOH) and we are not even at 50%, pathetic.”
State authorities were unclear whether Pino was placed on leave for urging employees to get vaccinated or compiling their vaccination status. [more]
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings: ‘It is my fervent hope that Dr. Pino returns to work … soon.’
