PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia health commissioner is handling an allegation that the CEO of Philly Fighting COVID allegedly took home doses of vaccine from a mass vaccination clinic. Katrina Lipinsky, who says she is a registered nurse and volunteered for the clinic over the weekend, posted on Twitter that Andrei Doroshin, the CEO of Philly Fighting COVID, “took home a ziplock bag full of vaccines”.
“He stuffed them in the bag and went out with them,” said Lipinsky.
Health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley called the alleged report “disturbing” after the city ended its relationship with the organization after it changed its status from non-profit to for-profit.
“I saw a statement in a tweet earlier today that the organization may have deviated some doses. If that’s true, this is very disturbing, they shouldn’t be doing that, ”said Farley during a press conference on Tuesday. “As you know, we have interrupted our relationship with this organization. But we will try to do what we can to find out if a dose has been missed and, as I said, we will not work with this organization in the future ”.
Lipinsky tweeted that she told the head of the group’s medical team about the incident, but the alleged response was the Philadelphia Department of Health “supports this so that we don’t waste vaccines.”
“While I vaccinated people, I asked them what they did to work. I vaccinated many, many people who did not fall into categories 1a or 1b. That was when I started to realize that it was a disastrous operation. The PFC gave BS responses to its own volunteers when asked about these problems, ”tweeted Lipinsky.
While I vaccinated people, I asked them what they did to work. I vaccinated many, many people who did not fall into categories 1a or 1b. That was when I started to realize that it was a disastrous operation. The PFC gave its own volunteers BS responses when asked about these problems.
– Katrina Lipinsky (@Katweeta) January 26, 2021
Dr. Farley assured residents that those who received their first vaccination through Philly Fighting COVID will still receive their second dose at the right time.
“We will ensure that everyone who received their first dose through Philly Fighting COVID receives the second dose,” said the health commissioner.
Doroshin did not address the claim to having vaccines at the clinic, but apologized “for the error in our privacy policy”.
“We thank the Department of Health and the opportunity provided. We understand that there have been legitimate inquiries regarding our privacy policies. There was a language in our privacy policy that was problematic and, as soon as we became aware of it, we removed it. I apologize for the error in our privacy policy. We never sell and we will never sell, share or disseminate any data we collect, as this would violate HIPAA [sic] rules, ”said Doroshin.
Philly Fighting COVID CEO official statement – Andrei Doroshin pic.twitter.com/77djD4ETjM
– Philly Fighting COVID (@PhillyFighting) January 26, 2021
According to the city, the corporate structure of Philly Fighting COVID has changed from a non-profit to a for-profit organization. The change in structure came with changes in its privacy policy. The city’s health department says it is looking for other providers to administer the vaccines.
MORE FROM CBSPHILLY.COM
Police: shot at dead teenager in wasteland in western Philadelphia
Reports: Duce Staley Lands Coaching Job With Detroit Lions After Requesting Philadelphia Eagles For Release
Philadelphia working to find other partners to administer COVID-19 vaccines after severing ties with Philly Fighting COVID