PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia health commissioner is addressing a claim that the CEO of Philly Fighting COVID reportedly took vaccine doses from a mass vaccination clinic. Katrina Lipinsky, who says she is a registered nurse and is volunteering to join the clinic this weekend, posted on Twitter that Andrei Doroshin, the CEO of Philly Fighting COVID, “took home a zip lock bag full of vaccines.”
“Put them in his bag and left with it,” Lipinsky claimed.
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley called the alleged report “disturbing” after the city ended its relationship with the organization after changing its status from non-profit to for-profit.
“I saw in a tweet earlier today that the organization would have diverted some doses. If that’s true, that’s very disturbing, then they shouldn’t, ”said Dr. Farley at Tuesday’s press conference. “As you know, we have ended our relationship with this organization. But we are going to try what we can to find out if there were any missing doses and, as I said, we will not work with that organization in the future. “
Lipinsky tweeted she told the group’s chief of medical staff about the incident, but the alleged response was that the Philadelphia Health Department “supports that so we don’t waste vaccines.”
‘While I was vaccinating people, I asked them what kind of work they did. I have vaccinated many people who did not fall into category 1a or 1b. Then I started to realize it was a disaster of surgery. PFC gave its own volunteers BS responses when questioned about these issues, ”Lipinsky tweeted.
While I was vaccinating people, I asked them what they did for their job. I have vaccinated many people who did not fall into category 1a or 1b. Then I started to realize it was a disaster of surgery. PFC gave its own volunteers BS answers when questioned about these issues.
– Katrina Lipinsky (@Katweeta) January 26, 2021
Dr. Farley assured residents that those who received their first vaccination through Philly Fighting COVID will still get their second dose on time.
“We will ensure that everyone who has received their first dose through Philly Fighting COVID gets their second dose,” said the health commissioner.
Doroshin did not answer the charge of taking vaccines from the clinic, but apologized “for the error in our privacy policy.”
“We are grateful to the health department and the opportunity offered. We understand that legitimate questions have been asked about our privacy policy. There was language in our privacy policy that was problematic and as soon as we became aware of it we removed it. My apologies for the error in our privacy policy. We never have and will never sell, share or distribute any information we have collected as doing so would violate HIPAA [sic] rules, ”said Doroshin.
Official statement from Philly Fighting CEO of COVID – Andrei Doroshin pic.twitter.com/77djD4ETjM
– Philly Fighting COVID (@PhillyFighting) January 26, 2021
According to the city, Philly Fighting’s corporate structure turned COVID from a nonprofit into a for-profit organization. The change in structure came with changes to their privacy policy. The city’s health department says they are currently looking for other providers to administer the vaccines.
MORE FROM CBSPHILLY.COM
Police: Teen shot, murdered in vacant lot in West Philadelphia
Reports: Duce Staley Lands coaching Detroit Lions after asking Philadelphia Eagles to be released
Philadelphia works to find other partners to administer COVID-19 vaccines after cutting ties with Philly Fighting COVID