Scott on vaccine requirements: “The private sector gets to make a decision”

ORLANDO, Fla. — In a one on one interview with Eyewitness News, Florida Senator Rick Scott said he believes the private sector, not government, should make decisions about how best to operate when it comes to vaccine requirements.

“What I believe is that government should not be dictating these things,” said Scott. “The private sector gets to make a decision how they want to make sure in the case of the cruise industry how their passengers and their crew members are safe.”

READ: CDC says cruises could resume in July if majority of crew members, passengers are fully vaccinated

Scott, who has been pressuring the CDC for months to re-open cruises, said he wants private companies to make the decisions as to what’s best for them and their customers.

“They want to keep everybody safe so they will make a decision to make sure they can keep cruising and keep everybody safe,” said Scott. “Private sectors ought to be able to make their own decisions.”

Scott’s comments come just days after the Florida Legislature passed SB-2006, banning vaccine passports while also limiting local government powers during an emergency.

READ: ‘We expect better’: Orange County mayor responds to governor’s decision to suspend local coronavirus emergency orders

On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law while also signing an executive order invalidating local COVID-19 restrictions.

Currently under CDC guidelines, cruise lines can start planning summer voyages if 95% of their passengers and 98% of their crew would have been fully vaccinated.

Cox Media Group