TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is using his emergency powers to direct $25 million in state money toward helping to develop a Zika virus vaccine.
Scott, who has been lashing out at the federal government for failing to pass a bill that includes Zika funding, announced his unusual action Thursday.
The Republican governor said that the money will be spent exclusively on Zika research, including speeding up the creation of a vaccine and developing new Zika testing methods. The Florida Department of Health will be ordered to draw up a grant program for universities and others interested in doing the research.
This marks the third time that Scott has ordered the state to spend money fighting Zika. Florida has now set aside more than $61 million for the effort.
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