Two Florida women reportedly used disguises to look like elderly “grandmothers” to get into the coronavirus vaccine line. However, the impostors were caught in the act by the local police.
Dr. Raul Pino, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, said on Wednesday that two younger women had gone to the Orange County Convention Center, which is a vaccination site.
“So, yesterday, we noticed that some young women came dressed as grandmothers to be vaccinated a second time,” explained Pino. “I don’t know how they escaped the first time, but they came vaccinated. The caps, the gloves, the glasses and they were probably around 20 years old.”
“Pino said that some firefighters who helped to examine and verify people coming for vaccines noticed something suspicious and Pino said that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was involved,” reported WESH-TV.
Florida health officials said two women “dressed up as grandparents” would try to get their second dose of the corona… https://t.co/O7w65Ze7uY
– The New York Times (@The New York Times)1613765407,0
The state of Florida is “prioritizing people 65 years of age or older and health professionals with direct contact with the patient and residents and employees of long-term care institutions”.
The alleged geriatric cheaters, who wore masks, were identified by the authorities as Olga Monroy-Ramirez, 34, and Martha Monroy, 44.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released body camera images on Friday of police officers confronting two women who allegedly tried to get the COVID-19 vaccine by pretending to be elderly.
A deputy is seen filming the body camera scolding women for committing fraud in trying to get the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Do you know what you did? You stole a vaccine from someone who needs it more than you do. And now you’re not going to get the second vaccine. So, this is a big waste of time that we waste here on this,” the policeman hears. telling women swindlers, according to WTVD-TV.
“If you come back, you will be arrested,” the policeman warned the masked men. “You are lucky that you are not being arrested now.”
The women were not charged with allegedly sneaking into the vaccination site, but were cited for trespassing.
Pino said health officials are investigating how the women received their first injection, adding that they may have obtained the vaccination through a loophole or possibly an internal source.
The director noted that this is not the first time someone has pretended to be an elderly citizen to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He revealed that a man tried to get a coronavirus vaccine using his 65-year-old father’s identification.
“This is the hottest commodity there is now,” said Pino of the coronavirus vaccine. “We have to be very careful with the funds and resources that are provided to us”.
Pino said that since the breach, they have added more security cameras at the Orange County Convention Center.
Nearly 45% of the population over 65 has been vaccinated in Orange County, officials said on Thursday.
Florida has administered nearly 4 million vaccines against the coronavirus.
Two Florida women who dressed up as ‘grandmothers’ to get vaccinated
www.youtube.com