A health care network with clinics in Boro Park, Bensonhurst and Williamsburg is under criminal investigation for unlicensed COVID-19 vaccines, officials said Saturday.
ParCare Community Health Network “may have falsely obtained a COVID-19 vaccine, diverted to facilities in other parts of the state in violation of state directives and disseminated to members of the public, ”State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a press release.
The statement came hours after the Post questioned a spokesman from the state health department about ParCare giving the hidden lies.
The network’s actions appear to run counter to the state’s plan to initially administer a limited supply of vaccines to frontline health care workers, along with nursing home residents and staff, the statement said.
Currently, there are not enough vaccines for the groups that should be receiving it in the first place.
“COVID-19 vaccine supply remains limited and has not yet met demand among priority groups for the first vaccine,” Dr. Jane Zucker, the city’s Department of Health’s deputy commissioner for vaccination, said Thursday.
The news site BoroPark24 reported Dec. 21 that ParCare said it had received 3,500 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
“Hundreds of patients have been vaccinated today, and people are still coming in,” Gary Schlesinger, CEO and president of ParCare, told the news site.
Schlesinger also said he expected to have vaccinated 500 people in Boro Park that same day.
ParCare set up a website, parcarevaccine.com, where residents could sign up for the vaccine.
“You have to be on that list,” Schlesinger told BoroPark24, adding that he planned to receive more vaccines every day. “Once you are on the list, we need to check to make sure you are either a health care worker, over 60, or have basic conditions. We will not vaccinate people who do not qualify for this first batch of scenes. ”
ParCare accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most other insurance plans, the company said.
Schlesinger has good political affiliation in the Orthodox Jewish community. He has forged ties with Mayor de Blasio, Attorney General Letitia James, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, and Brooklyn borough president and senior management candidate Eric Adams, sources said.
The ParCare ad said the network was “authorized” by the FDA to receive “the minimum amount of COVID-19 vaccines.” ”
“The vaccines will be available on a first-come, first-served basis (sic),” the advertisement states.
He states that the vaccines will be given “Only to people in the following categories,” and states: “Elderly, high risk, basic conditions.”
One community member told The Post that in his 60s his father was vaccinated at ParCare’s Williamsburg clinic.
“The community knows you can get vaccinated if you want,” said the resident, adding “it is a secret” how the clinic received the provision.
“We take this very seriously and the DOH will assist the State Police in the criminal investigation of this case. Anyone admitted unknowingly to take part in this scheme will be liable to the fullest extent of the law,” said the State Health Commissioner.
Schlesinger could not be immediately reached for reference.