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Philadelphia’s District Attorney is asking for the public’s help with more information on a startup company accused of stealing COVID-19 vaccinations.
Known as Philly Fighting COVID, the 9-month old organization initially partnered with Philadelphia’s Department of Health to provide COVID testing, but later pivoted to providing vaccinations.
Up until the scandal, Philly Fighting COVID had worked with Philadephia’s health department to launch its first testing site and later switched to providing thousands of vaccinations at the convention center.
On Jan. 23, lines of seniors waiting for their pre-booked vaccination appointment were told the clinic had accidentally overbooked and were turned away, WHYY reports.
That night as staff were wrapping up, witnesses reported there were vaccines left over.
The organization’s CEO, 22-year-old Andrei Doroshin, admitted on national television Thursday he took doses of COVID-19 vaccines home to inoculate himself and his friends, WCAU reports.
Even more, Doroshin admitted to not being a nurse and said he holds no qualifications for administering vaccines. Doroshin, a graduate student in a neuroscience program, has no health care experience whatsoever, according to reports.
Critics were left asking how the state of Philadelphia could join in a partnership with such a questionable firm.
A nurse who worked with Philly Fighting COVID told WHYY there were students and non-credentialed people at the convention center giving people jabs and filling syringes with doses.
She described the scene as a “free-for-all” for the young adults on staff, who at one point were vaccinating themselves at the end of the day and taking pictures.
The company was dropped Monday by the city after learning it had quietly switched its status from a non-profit to for-profit, WHYY reports.
City officials also took issue with a change in the company’s privacy policies, which were changed in a way that could allow personal data to be sold.
Doroshin bragged openly about how the switch to giving out vaccines would make him a millionaire, according to reports from former volunteers. He also denies not notifying city officials, and apologized for pulling out of Philly Fighting COVID’s testing obligations.
The pivot to vaccinations led to the testing appointments of various communities being abruptly canceled.
Philly Fighting COVID is not involved officially as of Friday with any class action lawsuits, but Top Class Actions is tracking this story for any potential developments.
A growing collection of lawsuits is emerging from the pandemic and the vaccination rollout. Read our latest coverage on COVID related developments.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is asking anyone with alleged crimes related to Philly Fighting COVID practices to reach out to their Special Investigations Unit via email at DAO_SIU@phila.gov or by calling 215–686–9608.
“It is concerning that reportedly Philly Fighting COVID appears to have misrepresented its role in vaccine distribution,” he said in a statement. “I have questions about collecting personal data from people signing up for vaccine information, and what this company plans to do or might have already done with that personal data,” he said.
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