An investigation is underway on reports that an Orange County-based healthcare provider may have “fraudulently obtained” the COVID-19 vaccine and given it to members of the public without following New York’s vaccine prioritization guidelines.
A statement released on Saturday by state health commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says that the ParCare Community Health Network “may have obtained it fraudulently [the] The COVID-19 vaccine transferred it to facilities in other parts of the state, violating state guidelines, and diverted it to the public. “
He goes on to say that this would be “contrary to the state’s plan to administer it first to frontline health workers, as well as residents and asylum workers.”
“We take this very seriously and DOH will be assisting the state police in a criminal investigation into this matter. Anyone who has consciously participated in this scheme will be held responsible to the full extent of the law,” said Zucker.
Community residents seem to agree.
“They should be prosecuted,” says John Tokar, a resident of Yonkers. “This is theft right here.”
Parcare lists four locations in Brooklyn, one in Manhattan and one in Monroe, Orange County on its website.
The Parcare Community Health Network issued a statement, saying: “During these unprecedented times, we strive to provide essential health services and administer COVID-19 vaccines to those qualified to receive them under State Department Health guidelines. of New York, which include first-line health care workers and first responders. Parcare Community Health Network has a long history of partnering with New York City to provide vital health services to New Yorkers who need them most – including the provision of COVID-19 tests – especially to New Yorkers in clinically underserved communities that I have been hit hardest by COVID-19. As we actively cooperate with the New York State Department of Health on this issue, we will continue to provide high quality health services quality to help New York out of this pandemic. “
The State Department of Health says News 12 that the investigation is ongoing and no further comments will be made at this time.