Two women in Florida impersonated elderly women in an effort to obtain the coronavirus vaccine (COVID-19), according to images from body cameras released on Friday.
According to the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Raul Pino, the alleged deceivers appeared at the Orange County Convention Center inoculation site on Wednesday “dressed up as grandparents” to get their second dose of the highly sought after drug.
“There was no shortage of weapons to be vaccinated,” said Pino to the local CBS affiliate, WKMG. “We also have people pretending to be old to be vaccinated. So, yesterday, we noticed that some young women came dressed as grandmothers to be vaccinated the second time, so I don’t know how they escaped the first time, but they came (to be) vaccinated. The caps, the gloves, the glasses – everything and they were probably in their 20s. “
According to the police, the pair was a little older than that. One woman is said to be 34 years old, while another is 44.
“There were some problems with their identities and driver’s licenses, but I don’t know all the details about them,” added Pino.
Apparently, women used their real names, but used false birth dates. Eventually, the police came.
“Do you know what you did? You stole a vaccine from someone who needs it more than you and now you will not receive the second one ”, said a deputy to women. “So it’s a big waste of time that we waste it here. So, we are at that point right here, but only for your selfishness to steal a vaccine. “
Their names have not been released to the media and are unlikely to become part of the public record because the pair is not facing charges. No arrests were made and they were warned that their behavior could have been accused of trespassing.
“Okay, this is a break-in warning,” says a sheriff’s assistant on the set. “You are warned that you are not licensed or encouraged to be in these facilities, and you can be arrested if you refuse to leave or return at any time in the future in this building or in the other buildings, parking everything, anything on the entire property here . It is ridiculous that you are here now. “
Then one of the women thanked the officers for their indulgence and the failed vaccine catchers went on their way.
“It’s kind of hilarious, but it’s also a disappointment because they are taking the place that someone else could, in a much greater need, have had,” said Pino before the footage was released.
He also noticed that he didn’t know how they managed to get the first dose – or if they really did.
“So, part of the discoveries that we have to make is if they were really vaccinated by us, when (they were) vaccinated, what happened, on what date, at what time to try to find out if there is any gap, gap, in the process that they are allowing people to do that, ”added the health department official.
[image via Orange County Sheriff’s Office]
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