Avoid COVID-19 Vaccine Scams In Cleveland Heights

Cleveland Heights OH

08 January, 2021

10:45 AM

Description

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The city of Cleveland Heights took to social media to warn residents about possible COVID-19 vaccine scams. "Possible scams (via email, phone call, postal mail, text message or social media) include people impersonating health officials or doctors and claiming to need personal information, such as a Social Security number, to place someone on the vaccination list or move them ahead in that list," the city said on Facebook. The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have received complaints of scammers using the public's interest in vaccines to get personally identifiable information and money through the schemes. Be aware of these red flags to fraudulent activity: Advertisements or offers for early access to a vaccine upon payment of a deposit or feeRequests asking you to pay out of pocket to obtain the vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting listOffers to undergo additional medical testing or procedures when obtaining a vaccineMarketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine, domestically or internationally, in exchange for payment of a deposit or feeUnsolicited emails, telephone calls, or personal contact from someone claiming to be from a medical office, insurance company, or COVID-19 vaccine center requesting personal and/or medical information to determine recipients' eligibility to participate in clinical vaccine trials or obtain the vaccineClaims of FDA approval for a vaccine that cannot be verifiedAdvertisements for vaccines through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sourcesIndividuals contacting you in person, by phone, or by email to tell you the government or government officials require you to receive a COVID-19 vaccine Tips to avoid COVID-19 vaccine-related fraud: Consult your state's health department website for up-to-date information about authorized vaccine distribution channels and only obtaining a vaccine through such channels.Check the FDA's website (fda.gov) for current information about vaccine emergency use authorizations.Consult your primary care physician before undergoing any vaccination.Don't share your personal or health information with anyone other than known and trusted medical professionals.Check your medical bills and insurance explanation of benefits (EOBs) for any suspicious claims and promptly reporting any errors to your health insurance provider.Follow guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other trusted medical professionals.Who's Getting the Vaccine? Phase 1A has largely consisted of frontline health care workers, first responders and patients and staffs in nursing homes. Gov. Mike DeWine said many hospitals should begin finishing Phase 1A in coming weeks, allowing the state to move on to Phase 1B. Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution will begin Tuesday, Jan. 19, making vaccinations available to Ohioans 80 or older. DeWine said the state wants to protect the most vulnerable and that includes Ohioans who are most likely to die if they contract the virus. The vaccine will be available to the 420,000 Ohioans who are 80 or older. Vaccines will be available through physicians, local health departments, hospitals, federally-qualified health centers, in-home health service providers and some retail pharmacies. With Ohio receiving approximately 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines per week, moving through Ohioans 80 and older will take some time, DeWine said. On Jan. 25, vaccines should become available to Ohioans 75 and older. Every week after that Ohio will make the vaccine available to a new age group of Ohioans, moving in five year increments until Ohioans 65 and older can receive the vaccine. Also, during the week of Jan. 25, the vaccine will be made available to Ohioans with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorders. The governor promised to soon release further details on how the vaccine will be distributed to those groups. DeWine said school staffers will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Feb. 1. Vaccine Scams Target Ohioans Ohioans are cautioned to be wary of anyone claiming to need personal information or...Posted by City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio - City Hall on Thursday, January 7, 2021