Town Officials Warn Of Possible Scams Connected To Vaccine

TOWN OF ISLIP, NY — As the COVID-19 vaccine is starting to be distributed around Long Island, Town of Islip officials are warning residents of potential scams that could be coming as well.

"Scammers rapidly alter their tactics and adapt their schemes to the changing landscape, and it is anticipated that they will leverage the pending COVID-19 vaccine to prey on unsuspecting beneficiaries," town officials stated in a statement.

Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined state's Vaccination Administration Plan and the establishment of Regional Vaccination Hubs to help facilitate vaccinations once Phase 2 of the state's plan begins in early 2021.

The plan is still in Phase 1, with high-risk hospital workers, nursing home residents, nursing home staff, followed by long-term and congregate care residents and staff, EMS workes, other health care workers, coroners and medical examiners receiving the vaccine first. So far, around 170,000 New Yorkers received the initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Under Phase 2 essential workers and members of the public considered to be high-risk will be next in line to receive the vaccine.

However, as more vaccines will continue to come in over the next few months, officials are providing some reminders for residents to avoid being scammed:

• You likely will not need to pay anything out of pocket to get the vaccine during this public health emergency.
• You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
• You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
• No one from Medicare or the Health Department will contact you.
• No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
• Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus.
• Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
• If you get a call, text, email — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam.

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