For one single mother of young children in New York who suffers from respiratory problems, Christmas came early when she learned word-of-mouth that, despite conflicting information about who could be taking the coronavirus vaccine, she underlying condition means she could indeed be vaccinated at a health clinic in Brooklyn.
“I was so relieved and grateful,” the mother and working professional, who was anonymous for privacy reasons, told Fox News. “And shocked that I could get it already.”
A week ago, she filled out a short form online and later announced that she had an appointment for Tuesday at a ParCare clinic in Brooklyn, the same week in which Moderna shipped her much-anticipated vaccines across the country.
“It all seemed normal, no different than going to any other urgent care, and everything was according to the book,” the woman, who got the jab almost a week ago, went on to explain that the clinic medical took insurance for the shot, but not hers, and took her $ 150 out of pocket. “But the doctor did not ask me which box I checked on the form or why I qualified for the vaccine.”
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The message spread in the days before the rollout of Moderna that the prominent ParCare clinic was authorized to administer the shot.
“The vaccines are made available on a first-come-first-served basis,” reads the company’s advertisement. “We have set up a special system where you can book your lock.”
In the ad, New Yorkers are encouraged to go to parcarevaccine.com to submit information or scan the barcode on the posters.
According to the poster, the high-risk vaccine “elderly and people with underlying conditions”, according to the state of New York, is not currently a decision.
The woman said a strange thing happened Friday when she received an apparent automated email – a few days after the shot – and thanked her for submitting her form online and warning patients not to sign up does not show up unless they have an appointment, even though her date has since passed.
A day later, the New York Department of Health (DOH), Howard Zucker, announced that ParCare Community Health Network – with five locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan – was under criminal investigation for fraudulently obtaining the popular COVID-19 vaccine. “. ‘and’ transferred it in violation of state guidelines to facilities in other parts of the state and diverted it to members of the public, contrary to the state’s plan to administer it to health care workers first and first responders. as nursing home residents and staff.
“We take this very seriously, and DOH will assist the state police in a criminal investigation into this matter,” the statement concluded. “Anyone who knowingly participates in this scheme will be held responsible to the full extent of the law.”
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However, a ParCare spokesman told Fox News on Monday that the clinic had been given opposite information on December 21 by a DOH representative, the day the Moderna shipment was received.
“There was nothing illegal here, no transfer on the black markets. The company was informed by telephone that it was allowed to redistribute the doses to other clinics in its network,” the representative said.
A ParCare spokesman also confirmed on Monday that he had proactively “returned” his existing stock of vaccines to the state pending the investigation into the department, so that those who did receive it were confused as to whether they would reap the full benefits and will receive the following: on jab. As formulated, the Moderna vaccine requires an enhancer uptake 28 days after the first one.
The spokesman also said he provided the documentation regarding the proper receipt of the vaccines to the NYS DOH and strongly denied that he had infringed in the attempt to obtain vaccine doses.
“Our record of hand-in-hand work with the city and state of New York is unmatched. ParCare has followed all NYS DOH procedures for obtaining the Moderna vaccine and has been approved by NYS DOH for distribution and by CDC as’ a networking site, “said the representative. ‘We are confident that the end result of the review will show that ParCare has made the best efforts at all times to meet all NYS DOH requirements, and will enable us to continue to achieve our key goal of: these critical vaccines to the New Yorkers offer them the most. ‘
According to a copy of a pack given to Fox News, the vaccines were sent directly to ParCare in Monroe, NY, from a McKesson pharmaceutical warehouse in Shepherdsville, Ky.
A copy of a pack given to Fox News explains that according to the newspaper, the vaccines were sent directly to ParCare in Monroe, NY, from a McKesson pharmaceutical warehouse in Shepherdsville, Ky., Claiming the company that it did not obtain illegally as the state speculated. (ParCare spokesperson)
Shortly after the state announced the criminal investigation, ParCare issued a statement insisting that it ‘strives to provide critical health care services and administer COVID-19 vaccinations to those who are qualified to receive them under the guidelines of the Department of Health in New York. ‘ The company also stressed that it “has a long history of partnering with New York City to provide vital health care services to New Yorkers who need it most.”
What many experts find confusing, however, is that ParCare openly, despite the mandate that health care workers are at the forefront and those in nursing homes and aged care institutions who have recovered half of the deaths in the state first. via social media ads and a major campaign advertising that it is receiving a shipment of approximately 2,300 pieces from Moderna.
ParCare is said to have fired more than 850 initial shots to date. It is unclear how much of it was given to individuals who qualify according to current state guidelines.
Although the problem is not clear, ParCare said it would “do everything in its power to ensure that the state understands that our patients have our priority and that everyone receives their second dose accordingly.”
“One person receiving the full vaccination dose could mean at least one more mortality rate,” said Kagya Amoako, associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of New Haven. “It is therefore strongly recommended that the administration of their second doses be considered. However, it may be prudent for the state to carry out additional revisions of the medical records to ensure that a second dose will not lead to adverse consequences. . “
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According to some legal experts, this can all amount to a huge misunderstanding.
“I doubt if the CEO of ParCare Medical Center would have advertised that he would receive the COVID vaccine if he understood it was illegal,” Amoako explained. ‘Declaring that they are vaccinated to those who are qualified to receive them under the State DOH guideline, which includes leading health workers and first responders, is not the same as saying that the recommended order of vaccination by the group has not been complied with.
“Teeth may need to add the vaccination language to clear up any confusion about the consequences or the lack thereof, if they do not follow the guidelines.”
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Still others argue that the state of New York, amid pressure from another boom in business, could move the case in other directions.
‘I do not believe that providing the vaccine itself to people who are not in the designated category is a crime in itself, unless ParCare is paid to make the party succeed’ despite the guidelines’, or they have lied to to get the vaccine in the first place, ”added criminal lawyer Troy Slaten. “Potential crimes can be under false pretenses, which may be criminal fraud. And if more than one person is part of the scheme, there is also a conspiracy to commit fraud.”
So if ParCare gets the vaccine that promises to supply it only according to government guidelines and then takes money to supply it to others who are not yet eligible due to the current scarce supply, it would be fraud, he said.
“Every fraudulent incident (vaccination) can be charged as a separate crime,” Slaten suspected.
New York’s governor and biotech firm, Moderna, did not respond to a request for further comment on the matter.