Earlier this month, the CBS Evening News bashed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) because he was moving doses of the coronavirus vaccine from inefficient hospitals to more efficient ones. You know, being responsible with what he was given. Well, CBS was back at it again on Tuesday as they chided him for planning ahead and holding on to doses to make sure elderly residence could get their follow-up shots. The network even teamed up with a Biden administration official to get their kicks in.
Even though he noted that “cities like New York” were canceling appoints and were desperate for vaccine doses, correspondent Manuel Bojorquez was critical of Florida’s ability to plan ahead.
“Florida's governor today fought back against White House claims the state has failed to administer half of its vaccine doses, saying some are being held back to guarantee seniors get the second prescribed shot,” he whined.
Bojorquez leaned on Biden COVID advisory panel member Dr. Michael Osterholm to contradict DeSantis for supposedly not believing the administration’s promises:
DESANTIS: Because that's what the FDA Has recommended and, so, that's what we're following.
OSTERHOLM: Well that in a sense is a disconnect, because you sure don't need to hold all the second doses, if you can count on vaccine coming next week.
That was the same Osterholm CBS touted last November because he was for a nationwide lockdown.
“Dr. Michael Osterholm, a member of President-Elect Biden's COVID-19 task force is recommending a nationwide lockdown,” reported correspondent David Begnaud, at the time. “Some people are just not getting the message, or they're ignoring it. Today, what is being described as the nation's largest indoor water park opened in Austin, Texas.”
This also wasn’t the first time that CBS had bashed Florida while overlooking New York’s gross mismanagement. While Bojorquez was trashing DeSantis earlier this month, he inexplicably touted New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) for threatening to fine hospitals $100,000 for not getting doses out fast enough. They also haven’t covered Cuomo's nursing home scandal.
CBS was also one of the broadcast networks that covered up how another disastrous order from Cuomo resulted in hospitals tossing out doses that were going to expire, rather than inject them into people not in the prescribed category.
“On December 28, he signed an executive order rolling out strict penalties—up to $1 million in fines, plus loss of medical license—for medical providers who allow people to skip the state-issued vaccination line, even when those doses are about to expire,” reported libertarian magazine Reason.
What made Bojorquez’s report even more ridiculous was that he ended it by noting: “Today, the State of Florida announced it has vaccinated more than 1 million seniors so far and has started to set up appointments for second doses at this state-run site.”
Do you know what helped allow them to do that Manny? Planning ahead and holding vaccines for second doses. You know, like what Dr. Anthony Fauci advised at the start of the year. You guys like him, right?
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
January 26, 2021
6:36:43 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: And those additional vaccine doses that President Biden talked about today can't come soon enough for cities and states that have complained about the federal efforts, so far. We get more tonight from CBS's Manuel Bojorquez.
[Cut to video]
MANUEL BOJORQUEZ: In parts of the country, vaccine appointments are being canceled as states and cities like New York are desperate for more supply.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NY): Right now, I need hundreds of thousands more dose per week.
BOJORQUEZ: Dr. Michael Osterholm is on President Biden’s COVID advisory panel.
Was there a clear strategy?
DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM: No. Operation Warp Speed was a tremendous success with regard to making the vaccine, but there was no plans really put into place for how to move it into our communities.
BOJORQUEZ: Florida's governor today fought back against White House claims the state has failed to administer half of its vaccine doses, saying some are being held back to guarantee seniors get the second prescribed shot.
GOV. RON DESANTIS: Because that's what the FDA Has recommended and, so, that's what we're following.
OSTERHOLM: Well that in a sense is a disconnect, because you sure don't need to hold all the second doses, if you can count on vaccine coming next week.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
BOJORQUEZ: Those painful stories continue to bring demand for the vaccine into focus. Today, the State of Florida announced it has vaccinated more than 1 million seniors so far and has started to set up appointments for second doses at this state-run site.
