NYSDOH Declines to Answer Questions on Montefiore New Rochelle Vax Fiasco

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Montefiore investigation continues.

The New York State Department of Health confirmed the investigation of Montefiore New Rochelle for violating state law by distributing COVID-19 vaccine to unauthorized persons is ongoing but otherwise declined to comment in response to a series of questions from Talk of the Sound.

NYSDOH shut down Montefiore New Rochelle as a vaccine provider after the Medical Director of the City School District of New Rochelle raised concerns early Thursday afternoon that non-Tier 1A public sector employees and local elected officials were receiving the vaccine.

NYSDOH Spokesperson Jonah Bruno said this morning, “As I stated Friday, the Department is investigating this incident. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”

Last Friday, Bruno said:

“DOH is investigating this egregious violation of the state’s clearly defined guidelines for the COVID-19 vaccine.  As we’ve said repeatedly, current eligibility for the vaccine is limited to health care and hospital workers, seniors living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and people with disabilities living in congregate settings. The facility is facing potential sanctions and penalties for these violations and its vaccine supply will be reallocated to the County Health Department.”

The Westchester County Health Department has since confirmed 330 dosed of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was turned over by Montefiore to WCDOH.

Since announcing the NYSDOH investigation, Governor Andrew C. Cuomo has reversed New York State Policy, saying later in the day on Friday that Tier 1B people (first responders, teachers, transportation workers and those 75 and older) could register to get the vaccine but would not receive the vaccine for weeks once a million Tier 1A people were vaccinated. On Saturday, Cuomo said Tier 1B people could get the vaccine if a hospital had maxed out its own workers — precisely what Montefiore says it was doing on Thursday.

We sent a series of questions on Tuesday:

Given the rapid-fire developments on vaccine distribution since last Thursday I want to ask:

Is an investigation of Montefiore New Rochelle still happening, if so what is the status?

I am not familiar with how such an investigation is done. Can you explain that generally? Does DOH have investigators or does it make a referral to another agency? Anything else I can tell my readers about process, generally?

Is there any time frame for an investigation of Montefiore? Anything you can add specific to a Montefiore investigation.

What will happen when complete — a statement, press release? How will the press/public know an outcome?

If the investigation ends and whatever fines are sanctions are imposed and paid/resolved, will Montefiore be eligible to be a vaccine provider going forward?

On this last point, many local residents have said they do not think it is fair to punish them for something done wrong by an administrator at Montefiore. By punish they mean Montefiore New Rochelle is situated in between the West End of New Rochelle (many low-income Hispanic households ) and the Lincoln Corridor (many low-income Black/AA households) and it is hardship to go across town or another town to get the vaccine.

—-

I have reported that internal emails show the Superintendent of Schools knew the procedure to the vaccine but instructed his staff to lie about their “tier” and to not register with NYSDOH. My source for the internal emails told me the Superintendent did the latter because he knew that registration with NYSDOH would trigger an “ineligible” response from the system.

Among those who followed these instructions I am told were administrators including one who has been 100% remote since March 2020, clerical staff at City Hall who never interact with students in a classroom setting and school board trustees who are not employees of the School District.

New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Instructed City Hall Staff to Lie to Get Illicit COVID-19 Vax

The District sent me a response last night to the effect that they did what Anthony Alfano of Montefiore told them to do (so, presumably this is meant to convey that telling staff to lie, not registering originated with Mr. Alfano)

Can you address this?

Thanks

Robert Cox