A nurse from upstate New York faces accusations of falsifying vaccination documents for over 100 kids throughout the state. Sandra Miceli, a licensed nurse practitioner, and registered professional nurse at Surviving Naturally in Monroe County, was penalized $55,000 by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) after the allegations.
New York Nurse Accused of Forging Vaccination Records
Miceli is indicted of forging immunization records for 116 school-aged kids, involving nearly 550 scheduled vaccinations. This supposed deceit has raised issues among health professionals, as it could have left the kids susceptible to numerous communicable illnesses such as measles, chickenpox, and polio.
Dr. James McDonald, the Health Commissioner of NYSDOH, highlights the risks posed by forging vaccine documents, stating that vaccination is essential for avoiding diseases.
He also emphasizes the comprehensive influence of spreading vaccine misinformation on public health.
Miceli, who operates Surviving Naturally, a "natural wellness center" in Webster, supposedly gave wrong data to the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) between July 2019 and February 2021.
According to the health department, Miceli falsified hundreds of vaccinations and falsely claimed that kids got vaccinations when they did not.
The majority of the affected children reside and attend schools in Monroe County and Western New York, though some are from as far as New York City.
NYSDOH's investigation revealed that Miceli would purchase vaccines and pretend to administer doses to children. In one instance, she reportedly claimed to have administered thirty times the number of doses she had purchased.
Miceli's opposition to vaccines and vaccine mandates was evident on social media platforms. She allegedly posted content on Surviving Naturally's Facebook page, spreading misinformation about vaccines and expressing her opposition to a New York state bill eliminating non-medical exemptions from school and daycare vaccine requirements.
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NYS Department of Health Fines Nurse with $55,000
In answer to her actions, Miceli was fined $55,000 by the NYSDOH. She was ordered to pay $30,000 within ten days, with the remainder of the fine suspended provided she adhered to certain conditions outlined by the department.
Additionally, Miceli and her staff at Surviving Naturally are permanently excluded from the NYSIIS and prohibited from administering vaccines reported to the system.
According to the NYS Department of Health, Sandra Miceli, who operated the natural wellness center "Surviving Naturally" in Webster, was accused of creating false immunization records impacting numerous children in the region.
Following the elimination of non-medical exemptions for required school vaccines in 2019, Miceli purportedly falsely documented that her patients received vaccines they had not.
Investigators identified 546 false vaccination reports concerning 116 school-aged or younger children.
DOH disclosed that Miceli posted anti-vaccination propaganda and disseminated misinformation about vaccines on social media, alongside her opposition to vaccine requirements.
Affected children's parents and schools will receive notifications if their vaccine records are invalid. Parents affected by these circumstances are ordered to guarantee their children are vaccinated before returning to school.
For those whose children's records were impacted, contact the Monroe County Department of Health's immunization clinic at (585)-753-5150.
