The DC Department of Health has warned residents about a new type of scam, in which an individual calls or messages the victim, saying they are selling doses of COVID-19 vaccine privately.
“The only places you can get a vaccine are through hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and doctors’ offices,” DC Health said in a statement. “There are no one-off sales of vaccines. And when you receive a real vaccine, it will always be free.”
If you receive a message or call offering the private sale of a vaccine, you should report it to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) at 202-727-4159 as an illegal scam, according to officials.
“We want to ensure that all of our residents have equitable access to vaccines in the District of Columbia. And we like to have all scams reported,” Director of DC Health Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt said on Monday.
Nesbitt explained that all vaccines must be approved and provided by the health department. They must also be administered by authorized healthcare employees.
As of February 1, 2021, the District lost 921 people to COVID-19, while 37,138 tested positive for the infectious disease. A total of 26,086 infected people were cleared from isolation, official data indicates.
Other vaccine-related scams listed by the FBI include:
- Advertisements or offers for early access to a vaccine upon payment of a deposit or fee.
- Requests asking you to pay out of pocket to obtain the vaccine or to put your name on a COVID-19 vaccine waiting list.
- Offers to undergo additional medical testing or procedures when obtaining a vaccine.
- Marketers offering to sell and/or ship doses of a vaccine, domestically or internationally, in exchange for payment of a deposit or fee.
- Unsolicited 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 vaccine.
- Claims of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a vaccine that cannot be verified.
- Advertisements for vaccines through social media platforms, email, telephone calls, online, or from unsolicited/unknown sources.
- Individuals 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.