Vehicles wait in line as COVID-19 checks are administered by on the primary day of the brand new website at Tenting World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 10, 2022. (Joe Burbank / Orlando Sentinel through AP)
A well being official who has helped lead central Florida's response to the pandemic has been placed on administrative go away as state officers examine whether or not he tried to compel staff to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in violation of state legislation.
The state well being company is conducting an inquiry into Raul Pino, director of the Florida Division of Well being in Orange County, "to find out if any legal guidelines had been damaged on this case," Florida Division of Well being press secretary Jeremy Redfern mentioned in an e mail.
A measure Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into legislation final fall prohibits authorities companies from implementing vaccine mandates and restricts non-public companies from having vaccine necessities until they permit employees to choose out for medical causes, non secular beliefs, immunity based mostly on a earlier an infection, common testing or an settlement to put on protecting gear.
"The Division is dedicated to upholding all legal guidelines, together with the ban on vaccine mandates for presidency staff and can take acceptable motion as soon as extra data is thought," Redfern mentioned within the e mail. He did not supply additional particulars.
Orlando's WFTV reviews that Pino was placed on go away after he despatched an e mail to workers earlier this month essential of their vaccination fee.
Pino wrote that out of 568 staffers, solely 77 had acquired booster photographs, 219 had gotten two vaccines doses and 34 solely had a single dose, in keeping with the tv station.
"I'm sorry however within the absence of affordable and actual causes it's irresponsible to not be vaccinated," Pino wrote. "We've got been at this for 2 years, we had been the primary to offer vaccines to the lots, we now have performed greater than 300,000 and we aren't even at 50% pathetic."
Pino has led the well being company in Orange County since 2019 and has served as a number one determine within the public response to the pandemic in metro Orlando.
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