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The health care network with clinics in Borough Park, Bensonhurst and Williamsburg is under criminal investigation for providing unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines, officials said Saturday.
Parker Community Health Network states that the COVID-19 vaccine may have been fraudulently diverted to facilities in other parts of the state in violation of state guidelines, according to state health commissioner Howard Zucker. Said in a news release.
The report comes hours after The Post questioned a state health department spokesman about Parker giving desirable vaccines.
The network’s actions, along with those of nursing home residents and staff, appear to be violating the government’s plan to first provide vaccines to leading health workers, Zucker said.
The government controls where and to whom the vaccine is distributed – and not enough for those who need to be in front of the line.
“The supply of the COVID-19 vaccine is low and the need for early vaccination has not yet been met among the priority groups,” Dr. Jane Zucker, assistant commissioner of immunization at the city health department, said Thursday.
Officials did not say how Shelsinger may have been vaccinated.
Parker said he received 3,500 doses of the Modern Ghana vaccine. News site BoroPark24 reported on December 21st.
“Hundreds of patients have already been vaccinated and people are still coming,” Parker’s CEO and chairman Gary Shelsinger told the news site.
Shelsinger said he expects to vaccinate 500 people at Borough Park on the same day.
Parker, also based in East Harlem, Crown Heights and Krias Joel, has set up a website called parcarevaccine.com, where residents can register for the vaccine.
“You should be on that list,” Shelsinger told Borobork 24, and he expects to receive more vaccines each day. “As soon as you join the list, we will monitor you to make sure you are a health worker, over the age of 60 or have basic conditions.
The vaccine is to be provided free of charge. Parker’s website asks those interested in obtaining their insurance information. The company said the network accepts Medicare, Medicate and other insurance plans.
Shelsinger was seen in a photo Tweeted on Tuesday The Rabbinical Alliance of America vaccinated itself, although he did not appear to be on the qualifying team.
Parker shyly Tweeted photos On Monday the boxes of the Moderna vaccine will be covered with ice cubes and then displayed in a refrigerator.
“A small injection can make a difference to the whole community!” It tweeted.
Schellinger was politically well-connected to the Orthodox Jewish community. Sources said he had developed relations with Mayor Di Blasio, Attorney General Lydia James, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Brooklyn Mayor and mayoral candidate Eric Adams.
He claims on his Facebook profile that he worked for the 2009 Bloomberg For Mayor campaign. His photos with politicians including President Trump have flooded his social media. On Twitter, Shelsinger called de Blasio’s contact with the Jewish community, a friend named Binny Ringle.
A ParCare ad stated that the network was “FDA approved” to receive the lowest number of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Vaccines are available on a first-come, first-served basis (sic) basis,” the ad says.
Vaccines are given “only to those of the following types”, and lists: “The elderly, high risk, basic conditions.”
The state has not yet arrived Approved the vaccine Anyone in those categories living in a nursing home, long-term care facility or group home.
A community member told The Post that his father was vaccinated in his 60s at the Williamsburg Clinic in Parker.
“It is known in the community that you can get a vaccine if you want,” said the resident, “it is a mystery” how the clinic received the distribution.
“We take this very seriously and the DOH will assist the state police in the criminal investigation into this matter. Anyone found to have knowingly participated in this scheme will be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” the state health commissioner said.
Shelsinger was not immediately available for comment.
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