NYC: Children affected by New York Nurse's fraudulent vaccine scheme barred from school

A suburban New York school district has taken a dramatic step in response to a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination scheme orchestrated by former nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono. In the Long Island hamlet of Plainedge, officials have barred several children linked to DeVuono’s practice from attending school, underscoring the enduring consequences of her actions.

DeVuono, the owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to charges of money laundering and forgery related to the issuance of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards. Her scheme, which netted over $1.5 million, came to light when she was arrested in January 2022 after authorities discovered she was charging $220 for adult vaccinations and $85 for children, amassing a cash haul of $900,000 during a raid on her home.

In her defense, DeVuono has asserted that “if those people feared the vaccine more than they feared getting COVID, anybody in our society has the right to decide for themselves.” Her perspective reflects a growing vaccine skepticism that has emerged since the onset of the pandemic.

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The fallout from DeVuono’s fraudulent activities continues, with New York state health officials recently sending subpoenas to over 100 school districts to request vaccination records for approximately 750 children who were patients at Wild Child Pediatrics. This has sparked a backlash, with more than 50 parents challenging the state’s efforts to subpoena their children’s records or prevent them from attending school.

In Plainedge, at least two former patients of DeVuono’s practice have already been barred from classrooms and are currently being home-schooled, as confirmed by Superintendent Edward A. Salina Jr.

DeVuono’s actions coincided with the implementation of stringent COVID-19 vaccination mandates across New York, impacting public employees and patrons of various businesses. As vaccine skepticism persists, childhood vaccination rates for preventable diseases like measles and polio have started to decline, raising concerns among health officials about potential outbreaks. The repercussions of DeVuono’s fraudulent scheme serve as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding public health and individual choice in a post-pandemic world.