In a tweet on Tuesday, DeSantis wrote, "no one should lose their job because of COVID shots… We must protect the jobs of Floridians and preserve the ability of Floridians to make their own decisions regarding what shots to take."
According to WCTV, the DOH notice of violation announced that "the county is facing 714 counts for requiring employees to provide proof of vaccination against the coronavirus."
An email from Governor DeSantis's office announced that the County further dismissed 14 employees for not getting their COVID-19 vaccinations.
"It is unacceptable that Leon County violated Florida law, infringed on current and former employees' medical privacy, and fired loyal public servants because of their personal health decisions. Governor DeSantis will continue fighting for Floridians' rights and the Florida Department of Health will continue to enforce the law," a spokesperson for the governor announced in a statement to WCTV on Tuesday.
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The DOH can issue a $5,000 fine per person that is asked to present evidence of vaccination under the state's prevailing COVID-19 rules.
Leon County reportedly issued its order for county employees to be vaccinated entirely against COVID-19 in July, with a deadline to get the proper shots by October 1, according to WCTV.
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In September, County Administrator Vince Long announced that Leon County's mandate would hold up in court.
"By way of media reports, Leon County was made aware of a notice from the Florida Department of Health regarding the County's vaccination requirement. There is a genuine disagreement about the applicability of the statute and rule, and the County will enforce its rights using any remedies available at law, if necessary."
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"We believe that requiring our employees as a condition of employment to become vaccinated is legal," Long stated. "It's permissible. The EEOC agrees with us, the DOJ agrees with us, federal district courts agree with us, and we also believe that it's not inconsistent with Florida law."
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The DOH has reportedly given Leon County 30 days to pay the fine.
When the county first published the vaccine requirement in July, Long announced it was his choice alone to issue it, saying he felt it was the only way to ensure safety for county employees.
Leon County's vaccine mandate does not apply to constitutional officers, including sheriff's deputies, court clerks, and tax appraisers.
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