An unprecedented state of emergency has been declared against a New York midwife who gave nearly 1,500 children homeopathic pellets instead of required vaccinations. $300,000 fine The state health department said this week that it was “putting lives at risk.”
Janet Breen, who runs Baldwin Midwifery on Long Island, administered pellets as a substitute for vaccinations and falsified immunization records. the agent said Wednesday.
The plan dates back to the 2019-2020 school year and involved families across the state, but the majority live in suburban Long Island. In 2019, New York State abolished religious exemptions. Vaccine requirements For elementary school students.
The health department says the immunization records of children who received falsified records have been invalidated and families will now need to ensure that their children are up to date with required immunizations or at least vaccinated before returning to school. He said it is necessary to prove that the company is in the middle of the process. school.
“Misrepresentation or falsification of vaccine records puts lives at risk and undermines the systems that exist to protect public health,” state Health Commissioner James McDonald said in a statement.
Breen, a state-licensed health care provider, is a series of oral pellets that are marketed as an alternative to vaccinations but are not recognized or approved as effective immunizations by state or federal regulators. He said he was offering patients a “true immune homeoprophylaxis program.” Department of Health.
She provided information on state immunizations that claimed children had received the required immunizations against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and other vaccines. Approximately 1,500 school-age patients were given 12,449 sham vaccinations before submission to the database. There are many other diseases, the agency said.
“By intentionally falsifying a student’s immunization record, this licensed medical professional not only jeopardized the health and safety of the school community, but also undermined the public’s trust,” State Education said. Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said in a statement. statement.
Breen’s attorney said Thursday that his client intends to cooperate with investigators, pay fines and comply with all other requirements in the agreement with health officials.
“Suffice it to say that Ms. Breen has provided excellent midwifery services to many families over the years, especially on Long Island. She is now nearing the end of her career,” David Eskew said in an email. I wrote this in a statement sent in . “From her perspective, this is over, it’s over, it’s settled for her, and she’s moving on with her life now.”
As part of the settlement, Breen will pay $150,000 of the $300,000 fine, and the rest will be suspended on the condition that he comply with state health law and never again administer any vaccinations that must be reported to the state, the health department said. It is said that it was done. She was also permanently banned from accessing the state’s immunization records system.
Department of Health spokeswoman Erin Clary said Thursday that Breen’s parents and legal guardians sought out Breen and paid for her services, but they are not the focus of the department’s investigation.
State health officials said they are currently notifying hundreds of affected school districts.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Giovanetti called the case against Breen “an unprecedented investigation.”
“Those involved in vaccination fraud, please be careful. Rooting out, combating and preventing all forms of vaccine fraud is the Bureau’s top priority, and it puts the health of our communities at risk.” “We will continue to take enforcement action against offenders who abuse the public health system through this type of illegal activity,” he said. statement.