A Brooklyn-based healthcare provider is facing criminal investigation on suspicion that it violated guidelines for distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.
New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker issued a statement on Saturday saying that ParCare Community Health Network may have fraudulently obtained COVID-19 vaccine and transferred it to facilities in other parts of the state and diverted it to members of the public.
The state rules say the vaccine is to be administered first to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staffers,” Zucker said.
“We take this very seriously and the DOH will be assisting state police in a criminal investigation into this matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, ParCare said it was cooperating with the authorities. It said in a statement the company was “providing critical healthcare services and administer COVID-19 vaccinations to those qualified to receive them under the state rules.”
ParCare posted photos of the Moderna vaccine on its Facebook page on Tuesday, saying it had received the drug, five days after posting that it had “been authorized to distribute” the vaccine for people meeting certain criteria.
“One small injection can make a difference for the entire community!” said a message.
