Doses of the coronavirus vaccine may have been mistakenly obtained and distributed in parts of New York, the state doctor said on Saturday.
Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the state’s health department, says his office has received reports from the Parcare Community Health Network “fraudulently” obtaining the vaccine and transferring it to “facilities in other parts of the state”.
Vaccine doses allegedly diverted to “members of the public” circumvent the state’s plan to inoculate frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, Zucker said.
The Parcare Community Health Network – identified by the state as a supplier in Orange County – serves branches in several neighborhoods in Brooklyn.
It was not immediately clear how much vaccine was suspected to be missing from frontline healthcare professionals and whether it was the Pfizer / BioTech or Modern vaccine. DOH said it would make no comment other than Dr. Zucker’s Saturday statement.
“We take this very seriously and the 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 in Saturday’s press release. .
In late October, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a partnership with Parcare to increase the availability of rapid tests at various locations in Borough Park and Williamsburg.
Parcare representatives did not immediately respond to News 4’s request for comment.