NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens COVID-19 vaccine site systemically diluted vials of the Pfizer shot in order to give out more doses, according to a new lawsuit filed by a former employee who alleges he was fired for asking questions.
Jamie Zheng, 33, argues that Centers Urgent Care, which ran the vaccine distribution site at Korean Community Services in Bayside, ousted him after he learned of the alleged policy to dilute doses beyond the CDC's recommendation.
Zheng, who ran the site from March to July 2021, told The New York Daily News that the alleged practice "makes [him] feel guilty."
"Just thinking about the people waiting on line, mostly the Asian community. They were so excited. They want to get protected but in reality they’re getting a compromised dose," he added.
According to the lawsuit, Centers Urgent Care instructed distributors to mix with 1.9 mL of a saline-based solution, allowing the company to squeeze seven shots instead of six out of each vial. For adults, the CDC recommends mixing a vial of Pfizer's vaccine with 1.8 mL of the solution.
Zheng, who sued the operator in Queens Supreme Court, said future deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine depended on how many people they had vaccinated in prior weeks.
Individuals vaccinated by private providers are reimbursed by insurance companies or Medicare.
The Daily News reports that Zheng is the second employee to sue over the alleged scheme. Andrew Palazzo argues in a suit filed last year that 16,000 doses could have been diluted and that he was let go from administering the vaccines after he raised similar objections as Zheng.
Last year, a court denied Palazzo's request for an injunction prohibiting the site from administering vaccines. The case against Palazzo is still ongoing and Centers Urgent Care has denied any wrongdoing.
Yale immunologist Akiko Iwasaki told the outlet over-dilution would likely not affect people's immunity from the virus, though the CDC recommendation should still be followed.
"No matter what the intention is they should have followed guidelines by CDC," she said. "Obviously it’s not a recommended thing to do, but with respect to antibodies and t-cells I would expect it wouldn’t make that much difference."
Zheng said he questioned the policy after learning of the lawsuit filed by Palazzo, who was his predecessor.
He was told it was no big deal by CEO Scott Orlansky in a May 21, 2021 conversation that was recorded and cited in the suit.
"The difference between 1.8 and 1.9 is non-existent," Orlansky allegedly said. "You are making a bigger deal out of this and we can’t have that."
Zheng alleges he was eventually demoted and ultimately fired.
A spokesman for Centers Urgent Care declined to comment on the lawsuit to the Daily News, but said that a Health Department inspection in May 2020 found no major issues and that the facility is still open.
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