The case of a Long Island midwife found to have falsified vaccine records for school-aged children may be the tip of an iceberg. The New York State Department of Health is investigating a broader scheme to falsify school immunization records that dates back to the 2019 repeal of a state law that had allowed religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements, court records show. Following the repeal, the department saw an increase in the number of health care providers registered to submit vaccine information to the state’s immunization registry. That included alternative medicine providers with no previous history of administering vaccines to kids. Among them was midwife Jeanette Breen, who was hit with an “unprecedented” $300,000 penalty this past January for violating state immunization registry law. From July 2020 to December 2022, Breen reported information about more than 12,000 vaccines she ostensibly administered to nearly 1,500 patients — including vaccinations that are required for school attendance. The Health Department found she instead supplied patients with homeopathic pellets marketed online as an alternative to vaccination, according to a settlement agreement. As a result, state health officials determined vaccines reported by Breen as “invalid” and deleted them from the immunization registry, according to a form letter sent to parents of school-aged kids who were affected. But the department’s investigative work is far from over, as evidenced by a letter filed last week in Nassau County Supreme Court that describes the Breen probe as an “outgrowth” of an ongoing investigation into new enrollees in the state’s immunization registry that exhibit “red flags.” Spokesperson Erin Clary said the Health Department does not comment on open investigations but noted that addressing and preventing fraudulent immunization records is a “top priority.” “The Department’s Bureau of Investigations will continue to use any and all available enforcement mechanisms to combat fraud in vaccination records in New York,” Clary said in a statement. “Where appropriate, this includes working with law enforcement partners, including prosecutorial agencies, to build criminal cases and arrest offenders, whether they be a conventional provider or an alternative medicine provider.” IN OTHER NEWS: — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island has received $15 million from Empire State Development for an expansion of its pancreatic cancer center of excellence, which is advancing research to diagnose and treat the disease, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday. The state previously committed $55 million for the lab’s $500 million expansion plan, which is expected to create 25 new jobs and generate as many as four spin-off companies annually. ON THE AGENDA: — Monday at 10 a.m. The capital committee of NYC Health + Hospitals’ board of directors meets, followed by the finance and audit committees. — Tuesday at 4 p.m. The equity, diversity and inclusion committee of NYC Health + Hospitals’ board of directors meets, followed by the community relations committee. — Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The state Public Health and Health Planning Council hosts a public educational session at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel in Tarrytown. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@politico.com. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
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