Saturday 11 June 2022 08:58 PM More than 80 NYC teachers are accused of submitting fake vaccine cards in $1.5M ... trends now
Eighty-two New York City school teachers were accused of submitting fake vaccine cards they allegedly acquired through a $1.5 million scheme run by a holistic pediatric center in Long Island.
In January, nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono, 49, and members of her staff were charged with dishing out fake vaccine cards to hundreds of customers at the Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare facility in Amityville, which offers natural remedies to patients.
Among their clients included 82 teachers in the city, who were charged $220 for each fake dose marked on their cards and were suspended without pay in April, the New York Post reported.
Several of the teachers, however, claimed they did get the vaccine properly from DeVuono's clinic as their union, the United Federation of Teachers, said it intends to sue the city's Department of Education over the suspensions.
Eighty-two New York City school teachers were accused of submitting fake vaccine cards (pictured) they allegedly purchased from nurse Julie DeVuono
Police said the cards were purchased at the Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare facility in Amityville (pictured), which offers natural remedies to patients
DeVuono, 49 (left), who owns the Long Island clinic, was charged with forgery and offering a false instrument for filing for fake vaccination cards. Practical nurse and Wild Child Pediatrics employee, Marissa Urraro, 44 (right), was also charged with forgery
Police found $900,000 in cash inside NYPD-issued helmet bags in DeVuono's home
Three of the suspended teachers, from Queens, speaking with Post under the condition of anonymity, said they did receive the required number of shots of Pfizer's vaccine from DeVuono.
When asked about the exuberant fees they paid, as the vaccine was distributed to Americans without cost, the teachers said they were paying for a 'detox' treatment.
'We did not pay for the vaccination itself or the card,' one of the teacher, who works with students with disabilities, said.
'It helped detox my body from all the unnecessary stuff in that shot.'
The teacher said
