Federal complaint alleges ‘discriminatory’ vaccine distribution at Lakewood Ranch clinic

State and local authorities already are looking into a pair of complaints about a controversial vaccine pop-up clinic in Lakewood Ranch, and now the federal government also could get involved.

Another complaint about the clinic was filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The Herald-Tribune obtained a copy of the federal complaint, which raises concerns about the Lakewood Ranch clinic giving special access to the vaccine to residents of two wealthy ZIP codes.

“This is a discriminatory and fraudulent practice as the U.S. government is supplying the vaccines to the state,” the complaint reads.

The federal complaint comes after a state ethics complaint was filed against Manatee County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh, who helped organize the vaccine clinic and said it was her decision to limit vaccines to two ZIP codes.

Baugh also has been heavily criticized for sending an email to the county’s public safety director with the names of five people to include on the list of those getting the vaccine at the Lakewood Ranch clinic. Baugh’s vaccine VIP list included herself, two neighbors, Lakewood Ranch developer Rex Jensen and his father.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a complaint about Baugh’s actions surrounding the clinic. Baugh said during a County Commission meeting this week that she didn’t break the law.

“There has not been any criminal activity from me,” Baugh said.

The federal complaint filed by Broward County resident Matthew Issman focuses on Gov. Ron DeSantis. It highlights “what the governor is doing for the wealthy Lakewood Ranch development, whose developer is a wealthy contributor to the governor’s election campaign.”

The Lakewood Ranch vaccine clinic was initiated by the governor’s office, which worked with Jensen and Baugh to set it up.

Issman, whose daughter is a school teacher in Manatee County, said in an interview that he heard about the Lakewood Ranch clinic from his daughter and a retired friend who lives in Bradenton. 

“It’s federal money that pays for the vaccine,” Issman said, adding: “Politics should have nothing to do with it, and apparently in Manatee County it does.”

DeSantis spokeswoman Meredith Beatrice called the complaint “clearly a manufactured narrative with political motivations.”

“Leadership matters, and because of Governor Ron DeSantis’ commitment to ensuring vaccine access to all seniors – regardless of background, income or zip code – millions of seniors in Florida have received the vaccine,” Beatrice added. 

Please follow Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson on Twitter at @zacjanderson. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com