At least two studies are underway into how the city’s health department gave the job without a contract to Andrei Doroshin, a Drexel University student with almost no public health experience.
“You know what, I did it. We did it. We vaccinated nearly 7,000 people,” Doroshin said in an interview with Action News.
He said the Philadelphia Health Department is fortunate to have his company used to run the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s vaccine clinic for health professionals.
‘They couldn’t do it themselves. Dr. Farley screwed this up. He couldn’t do this himself, ”said Doroshin.
The city council is planning a hearing on Friday. Council Chairman Darrell Clarke wants to demand that the city sign written contracts with vaccine partners, given what he called the embarrassment and distrust that ensued. The office of the town’s inspector general, meanwhile, is investigating whether Dr. Caroline Johnson, an acting deputy in the health department, has unfairly given Doroshin’s group and another potential applicant budget information that was not made public.
“She did not prefer any of these organizations over the other. She gave no information on how to provide a clinic vaccination plan or other prior information. And she did not offer additional doses of vaccine to either organization,” Farley said of Johnson.
ALSO SEE: Philadelphia Acting Deputy Health Commissioner resigns
Johnson, an infectious disease specialist, resigned last weekend. Mayor Jim Kenney on Monday praised her previous work for the city, but said “we will occasionally stumble” as the city responds to the pandemic.
The city council is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday on the work awarded to Doroshin’s group, Philly Fighting Covid, which this month distributed nearly 7,000 vaccines before the city closed its doors amid questions about patient competence and privacy policies.
It was clear this was a hookup. Why wasn’t this in writing? ‘ Councilor Cindy Bass asked Monday afternoon at a virtual press conference.
Doroshin has insisted he did nothing wrong, although he admits that he took four doses of the hard-to-get vaccine home and administered to friends.
“The health department’s recommendation was put in every arm. This is a war on a virus. At the end of the day, the doses were nearly running out,” Doroshin said last week. ‘What would you have done? You have these four extra doses, you have called everyone, they are about to expire, the counselor says, put it in an arm. ‘
ALSO SEE: Philly Fighting COVID CEO defends the company’s actions in a 1-on-1 interview
– The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2021 WPVI-TV. All rights reserved.