– Dr. Lisa Gwynn, a pediatrician at the University of Miami Health System and president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Jaziel Ojeda
Dr. Lisa Gwynn, a pediatrician at the University of Miami Health System who has been a vocal advocate for access to vaccines for poor young children, was removed Wednesday from a state-appointed board for publicly criticizing the decision to Florida to delay access to the COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of five.
Gwynn received an email Wednesday afternoon from Susan Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis, informing her that she would be removed from her position on the Florida Healthy Board of Directors. Kids for making “some very political statements that do not reflect the CFO’s point of view.”
The email, which was first reported by Florida Politics, came as a surprise to Gwynn, who said she had no inkling she would be removed from the job she has held since she was appointed in March.
“Frankly, we’re just trying to advocate for things, for equitable access to the vaccine,” Gwynn said in a call with the Miami Herald. “I am not a politician, I am a pediatrician. And there is no other reason for me to do what I do other than to improve the health of children in our state.”
Miller’s email stated that Gwynn went so far as “to say that the state is ‘blocking’ access to vaccines.” The CFO does not share his opinion and believes that the state has done everything possible to protect lives from the coronavirus.”
The CFO’s office had no further comment on Gwynn’s removal. Patronis, a Republican, is running for re-election this year.
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.
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