The FBI issued a warning on March 30 about a growing number of fraudulent vaccination cards which were being peddled to New Yorkers and to American residents, nationwide. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has now introduced legislation at State level to charge those partaking in such fraud.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the FBI issued the warning in March to make the public aware that there were individuals both selling fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards and encouraging others to print such fake cards in their homes. Agency officials said that fake vaccination record cards were also being advertised on social media websites, as well as e-commerce platforms and blogs.

Vaccination record cards are intended to provide recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine with information about the type of vaccine they received, when they received it, and for those who have only received one dose, when they are scheduled to receive their second dose. “If you did not receive the vaccine, do not buy fake vaccine cards, do not make your own vaccine cards, and do not fill-in blank vaccination record cards with false information,” the agencies warned.

“By misrepresenting yourself as vaccinated when entering schools, mass transit, workplaces, gyms, or places of worship, you put yourself and others around you at risk of contracting COVID-19,” the statement continued. “Additionally, the unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal, such as HHS or The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a crime, and may be punishable under Title 18 United States Code, Section 1017, and other applicable laws.”

Agency officials said that because some individuals may use fake vaccine cards to misrepresent themselves as vaccinated, they strongly encouraged businesses, schools, places of worship, and government agencies to follow CDC guidance and continue to maintain social distancing and use personal protective equipment. “If you did receive the vaccine, we recommend you do not post photos of your vaccine card to social media websites—your personal information could be stolen to commit fraud,” the statement continued. They said for more information about the dangers of sharing a vaccination status on social media, residents should click here and here.

In response to the proliferation of such fake vaccination cards, Dinowitz, who represents the 81st assembly district in the Northwest Bronx, announced on Friday, May 14, that he has introduced new legislation at the State level to make it easier for prosecutors to charge those forging or possessing a forged immunization record, with a felony. The bill adds explicit language to the definitions of forgery, in the second and third degrees, that addresses forged immunization records.

Dinowitz said that as more people get vaccinated, stories have emerged of new ways for so-called “anti-vaxxers” to circumvent public health regulations that require proof of immunization to participate in potential, so-called “super-spreader” events and activities. “Posts on social media have drawn the attention of at least 47 attorneys general from around the United States, and investigative journalists have uncovered numerous options on digital platforms, including Etsy, Telegram, and others, to purchase or fabricate fraudulent vaccination cards,” the assemblyman said.

The new bill would add forged immunization records, “including, but not limited to, the COVID-19 vaccination record card approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control,” to New York State penal law, as a class D felony (forgery in the second degree). In an incident involving more than 50 fraudulent documents, such forgery would be considered a class C felony (forgery in the first degree). A class D felony in New York is punishable by up to seven years in prison, while a class C felony is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

“There can be no tolerance for fraudulent vaccination cards in New York, whether you are buying or selling them,” said Dinowitz. “I am confident that this egregious behavior is already illegal according to countless state, local, and federal statutes but we should be explicitly clear in New York: if you get caught with a fake vaccination card, you will go to jail for a long time.”

The assemblyman added that he has also started to reach out to partners in government at the New York State Department of Health (DOH), New York State Attorney General’s office (OAG), and at New York State Police to solicit thoughts or recommendations on how the legislature can help fight against what he described as dangerous and reckless fraud activity.

Norwood News first reported on a number of COVID-19 scams highlighted by the New York State Division of Consumer Protection in December 2020. We later reported on warnings by Gov. Andrew Cuomo regarding vaccine fraud the same month. Later in January, there were more reports that the State department of health had been made aware of reports of the possibly fraudulent acquirement by an Orange County health provider of COVID-19 vaccine stocks, and the diversion of the vaccine stocks to members of the public, contrary to the State’s guidance at the time of who was to get vaccination priority.

The governor signed an executive order stating that a health care provider could be fined up to $1 million and lose all State licenses if they were found to have committed fraud or intentionally administered a vaccine to a person who was not eligible. “We are very serious about this, and we will not tolerate any fraud in the vaccination process,” Cuomo said at the time. “Those who do engage in fraud will be held accountable.”

On Saturday, May 15, NBC reported that a Long Island CVS worker was caught trying to give out fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards. “People who are buying or selling fake vaccination cards are jeopardizing the public health,” said Dinowitz. “This immoral and selfish behavior must be stopped.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, Dinowitz tweeted an article by Intelligencer which highlighted ongoing vaccination card scams, saying, “The prevalence of counterfeit vaccination cards is dangerous and lulls NYers into a false sense of security when they are in public spaces,” He added, “If you don’t want to get vaccinated, live with the consequences.  @GovKathyHochul: We need my bill w/ @AnnaMKaplan signed into law ASAP.”

Kevin Pazmino, a general election candidate running on the Republican Party and Conservative Party ticket for the Bronx District 11 City Council seat, replied to Dinowitz on Wednesday, saying, “Another reason why I am running against your puppet ass son. #mybodymychoice #PapersPlease” Pazmino ran and lost in the recent March special election earlier this year. The race was ultimately won by Dinowitz’s son, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, as reported.

In response to Pazmino’s tweet, the assemblyman wrote, “Glad to know someone running to hold public office in our community is an apparent anti-vaxxer who believes people should be allowed to use and distribute counterfeit vaccination cards,” He added, “This is the modern GQP, everyone.” GQP is a term used by Democrats to describe what they see as a  worrying evolution of the GOP into a QAnon-inspired party, led by conspiracy theorists such as Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, as reported by Kron4.

As of Sept. 15, the Bronx still ranks lowest, at 53 percent, in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates out of all five boroughs according to City data.

Bronxites had been encouraged to take part in a research study by Montefiore Health System several months ago that aimed to better understand Bronx communities’ attitudes to the vaccine. Dr. Nancy Kheck, director of health and human services at the Bronx Borough President’s Office, had been working together with Dr. Damara Gutnick, senior director at the Office of Community and Population Health at Montefiore Health System on the survey.

As the survey is now closed, Norwood News followed up with Montefiore to check if the survey results have been published.  We will update this story accordingly upon receipt of any feedback. In the meantime, some of the potential reasons for hesitancy were shared in a previous story published a few months ago.

Glad to know someone running to hold public office in our community is an apparent anti-vaxxer who believes people should be allowed to use and distribute counterfeit vaccination cards.

This is the modern GQP, everyone. https://t.co/4HmYhFvGYW

— Jeffrey Dinowitz (@JeffreyDinowitz) September 15, 2021

As of Sept 15, in ZIP code 10467 which includes Norwood, Williamsbridge, Pelham Parkway and Allerton, 51 percent of people are fully vaccinated, up from 28 percent on May 15, while 59 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

In ZIP code 10470, which includes Woodlawn and Wakefield, 55 percent of people are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 15, up from 25 percent as of May 15, while 61 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

As of Sept 15, in ZIP code 10466 which includes Wakefield and Edenwald, 45 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, up from 28 percent on May 15, while 53 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

In ZIP code 10469 which includes Allerton, Baychester, Pelham Gardens and Williamsbridge, 48 percent of people are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 15, up from 29 percent as of May 15, while 55 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

As of Sept 15, in ZIP code 10463 which includes Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil and Marble Hill, the rate is much higher with 61 percent of people are fully vaccinated, up from 42 percent on May 15, while 67 percent have received one dose, according to the City’s health department.

In ZIP code 10468 which includes Fordham, Kingsbridge and University Heights, 52 percent of people are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 15, versus 28 percent on May 15, while 60 percent have received at least one dose, according to the City’s health department.

As of Sept. 15, in ZIP code 10453 which includes Morris Heights, Mount Hope and University Heights, 51 percent of people are fully vaccinated, up from 26 as of May 15, while 60 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

In ZIP code 10457 which includes Belmont, Claremont,Mount Hope and Tremont, just 49 percent of people are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 15, up from 25 percent as of May 15, while 58 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

As of Sept. 15, in ZIP code 10460 which includes West Farms, Van Nest, Tremont and Charlotte Gardens, 47 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, up from 28 percent as of May 15, while 56 percent have received just one dose, according to the City’s health department.

In ZIP code 10462 which includes Parkchester, Pelham Parkway, Van Nest and Westchester Square, 62 percent of people are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 15, up from 37 percent as of May 15, while 70 percent have received one dose, according to the City’s health department.

Anyone with information regarding the fraudulent creation or sale of COVID-19 vaccination cards can file a report by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to tips.fbi.gov.

For more information on the various vaccines, go to: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccine-facts.page.

According to NYC DOH, when proof of vaccination is required, New Yorkers can choose from the following options:

• a CDC vaccination card, or photo or photocopy of this card;
• an NYC vaccination record or other official immunization record from within or outside the U.S., including from a health care provider or a photo or photocopy of this card;
• the NYC COVID Safe App, on Android or iOS, where residents can upload a photo of their CDC vaccination card or other official record, along with a photo ID;
• the Excelsior Pass or Excelsior Plus Pass, where New Yorkers will need the phone number or email address associated with their NYC vaccination record. More information is available at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines-keytonyc.page.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.