Doses of the coronavirus vaccine may have been falsely obtained and spread across parts of New York, the state’s top doctor said Saturday.
Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner for the state’s Department of Health, says his office has received reports from the Parcare Community Health Network that obtained the vaccine “fraudulently” and transferred it to “facilities in other parts of the state” .
The vaccine doses reportedly diverted to “members of the public” circumvent the state’s plan to vaccinate primary health care providers and residents of long-term care facilities, Zucker said.
Parcare Community Health Network – identified by the state as a provider in Orange County – serves facilities in a number of Brooklyn neighborhoods.
It was not immediately clear how much vaccine was suspected of skipping primary care health workers and whether it was the Pfizer / BioTech or Moderna vaccine. The DOH said it would not comment outside of Dr. Zucker on Saturday.
“We are taking this very seriously and DOH will assist state police in a criminal investigation into this matter. Anyone who knowingly participated in this settlement will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Zucker said in the press release. Saturday. .
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.