For one New York-based single mother of young children, who suffers from respiratory problems, Christmas came early when she learned through word-of-mouth that – despite conflicting information as to who was eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine – her underlying condition meant she could indeed be inoculated at a Brooklyn-based health clinic.
“I was so relieved and grateful,” the mother and working professional, who requested anonymity for privacy reasons, told Fox News. “And shocked I could get it already.”
A week ago, she filled out a brief form online and was later informed that she had an appointment at a ParCare clinic in Brooklyn for Tuesday, the very same week that Moderna was shipping its highly anticipated vaccines across the country.
“It all seemed normal, no different than going to any other urgent care and everything was by the book,” the woman, who got the jab almost a week ago, continued, explaining that the clinic took some medical insurances for the shot, but not hers, charging her $150 out of pocket. “But the doctor didn’t ask me which box I checked on form or why I qualified for the vaccine.”
Word had spread in the days leading up to the Moderna rollout that the prominent ParCare clinic was authorized to administer the shot.
“The vaccines will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis,” the company’s ad read. “We have set up a special system where you can reserve your slot.”
The advertisement urged New Yorkers to go to parcarevaccine.com to submit information or scan the barcode featured on its posters.
The poster said the vaccine was for “high risk, the elderly, and those with underlying conditions,” which New York state argues is not its decree at present.
The woman said a strange thing happened Friday when she received a seemingly automated email – several days after the shot – thanking her for submitting her form online and cautioning patients not to show up unless they were issued an appointment, although her date had since passed.
A day later, the New York Health Department (DOH) Commissioner Howard Zucker announced ParCare Community Health Network – with five locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan – was under criminal investigation over concerns it “may have fraudulently obtained” the coveted COVID-19 vaccine” and “transferred it to facilities in other parts of the state in violation of state guidelines and diverted it to members of the public,” contrary to the state’s plan to administer it first to front-line health care workers and first responders, as well as nursing home residents and staffers.
“We take this very seriously, and DOH will be assisting State Police in a criminal investigation into this matter,” the statement concluded. “Anyone found to have knowingly participated in this scheme will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
However, a spokesperson for ParCare told Fox News on Monday that the clinic was given contrary information by a DOH representative on Dec. 21, the day it received the Moderna shipment…
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