Three counties in the San Francisco Bay Area have suspended the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to One Medical offices after the private health care provider allowed ineligible people to reduce their vaccinations, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday. .
According to the Chronicle, the provinces of San Francisco, San Mateo and Alameda have stopped sending vaccine doses to One Medical, and want more than 1,600 doses returned. NBC Bay Area later confirmed the report.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health has investigated complaints that the company gives vaccines to people who do not meet the state’s early admission requirements, according to the report, and the company’s response indicated that people who were not eligible before their time has not been vaccinated.
California only vaccinated people over the age of 65, as well as health care workers and other essential workers. Early stock shortages have forced some local health agencies to limit vaccinations to those over 75 or health workers.
In a letter to One Medical executives, the San Francisco Department of Health demanded that 1,600 vaccine doses be returned immediately because they could not confirm the suitability of some vaccine recipients. The doses have been set aside for ‘other uses’, according to the letter, which was not approved by the health department. The company was allowed to hold enough doses to give the second shots to those who had already received one shot.
Officials from the province of San Mateo and Alameda also found inconsistencies, reported the Chronicle and also cut off their awards.
NPR reported earlier Wednesday that One Medical is disregarding local regulations by having people in several countries cut for vaccinations, including employees who have nothing to do with the public. Forbes reported similar claims earlier this month.
In a statement to MarketWatch, One Medical stated: ‘Any allegation that we are in a broad and knowledgeable manner disregarding the suitability guidelines is in direct conflict with our actual approach to the administration of vaccines.
‘Recent media reports on One Medical perpetuate dangerous public misconceptions about our COVID-19 vaccine protocols, and, more importantly, have insulted our company’s values in our efforts to work with healthcare professionals across the country to administer COVID-19 vaccines serve. While this type of reporting is discouraging to our team members who have worked tirelessly nights and weekends to develop the complexity and challenges of the vaccine, we remain committed to serving our communities and hope that this report does not hinder our ability to continue this important work, ”the company said, adding that 96% of those who were vaccinated had evidence of suitability, and the other 4% were ‘vaccinated according to the zero wastage protocols.’
One Medical is a membership-based health clinic with offices in 12 major markets and works with more than 7,000 companies. In November, One Medical reported that it had more than 511,000 members.
Shares of One Medical Parent Company 1Life Healthcare Inc. ONEM,
fell more than 4% on Wednesday. Following its announcement in January 2020, equities have risen 126% over the past 12 months, compared to the S & P 500’s SPX,
26% profit.