With the Covid vaccines’ becoming available, JoAnne Spoto Decker, Deputy Commissioner and Executive Director of the Office for Aging has shared the following alert:
It is life-saving news that the COVID-19 vaccine is starting to be administered in our area, across NYS, our country and the world.
At this time, the Office for Aging is concerned that our senior population may be targeted with COVID-19 vaccine related scams. It is essential that we alert the public of likely schemes and provide them with information on how they can protect themselves:
- 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 with 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.
Please reach out to the Office for Aging (315-435-2362) if you become aware of any local, COVID-19 vaccine-related scams.
Image credit:
Illustration of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
by Alissa Eckert and Dan Higgins (both with CDC)
License: Public Domain