Amid growing public skepticism about vaccines and increasing outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, the New York State Department of Health has taken significant action over the last four years, barring 21 healthcare providers suspected of vaccine fraud from administering immunizations to children. This includes nine individuals based on Long Island.
The suspensions, as well as some permanent prohibitions, followed investigations conducted by the state’s vaccine fraud unit that was set up in 2021. Initially aimed at tackling fake COVID-19 vaccination records, the unit quickly expanded its scope to examine potential fraud related to childhood immunizations. Among the more notable cases, experts described two incidents in Long Island as among the largest known immunization fraud operations in the country. One involved a former Baldwin midwife, Jeanette Breen, who falsely recorded vaccinations for nearly 1,500 children, while another case detailed a former Amityville nurse practitioner, Julie DeVuono, who fabricated records for 162 children.
In other troubling instances, providers reported using the same vaccine doses multiple times. A Rochester-area nurse, known for promoting anti-vaccine views online, claimed to have used a five-dose vial, which had a unique identification number, a staggering 154 times. Another case involved a doctor from Syosset who reported using vaccines with identification numbers that didn’t actually exist.
When the Health Department issued subpoenas for vaccine records to a doctor and a physician’s assistant in New Hyde Park and the Bronx, they argued that they were exempt from state mandates due to engaging in “tribal and religious research.” This line of reasoning was dismissed by judges. Similarly, a Rockland County doctor made the same claims, which were ultimately rejected in court.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
The New York State Department of Health has escalated initiatives to address vaccine record falsifications through a specialized task force.
Long Island has an unusually high number of healthcare professionals on a “school vaccination fraud awareness list,” intended to alert schools about potential fraudulent activities.
Experts believe vaccine fraud has risen since 2019, when the state eliminated religious exemptions for immunizations, coinciding with increasing public doubts about vaccines.
The providers listed as barred from immunizing children, along with their legal representatives, have denied the accusations of falsifying records. Some were unreachable for comments, while others opted not to respond to inquiries.
All 21 providers are currently either temporarily or permanently barred from submitting vaccination records to schools and the electronic New York State Immunization Information System, essentially meaning they are prohibited from administering childhood vaccinations.
Three initial cases of suspected fraud involved falsified COVID-19 records. However, most of the other allegations pertain to state-mandated vaccines necessary for children to attend school and daycare, such as those for measles and polio.
Erin Clary, a spokeswoman for the Health Department, emphasized in an email that tackling the falsification of immunization records is a top priority for the agency. She noted the importance of vaccination fraud prevention, particularly to protect vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with health issues who are at heightened risk of severe illness or death from diseases like measles.
Proving that vaccine fraud has occurred can be “tremendously difficult,” according to Brian Dean Abramson, an adjunct law professor who specializes in vaccine law. Providers engaged in such actions typically want to keep their misconduct hidden, making detection challenging.
“The cases that come forward are likely just a fraction of what’s really happening,” he explained.
The names of the 21 involved healthcare practitioners were published on the state’s “school vaccination fraud awareness” website, which advises schools against accepting any or all immunization records from suspected fraudulent practitioners. The site also provides valuable tips for school officials on identifying false vaccine records.
However, the medical professionals and their attorneys assert that this public disclosure tarnishes their reputations while they await case resolution, which can sometimes take years. Some have expressed that they were not given the opportunity to present their side or defend themselves against the allegations.
Clary mentioned that the Department relies on public health law for these suspensions and adds professionals to the fraud website only when strong evidence is present. She stated, “The Department must have proof of fraud sufficient to uphold legal scrutiny and validate its credibility in tackling fraudulent records.”
Interestingly, the Health Department has not filed administrative charges against most of the individuals listed, and in many cases, there has been little detail available on specific allegations. Clary explained that the state does not discuss ongoing probes, which adds some ambiguity to the fraud website regarding which investigations are still active.
In about half the cases, available court documents and evidence shed light on the state’s claims and the types of evidence collected. Some of these documents resulted from lawsuits filed by doctors and nurses arguing that their immunization privileges suspension and placement on the fraud list violated their due process rights.
While vaccine fraud experts generally support the fraud awareness list and website, some argue that the state should afford medical professionals more opportunity to defend themselves, clarify the status of incomplete investigations, and expedite processes so that practitioners aren’t left on the list indefinitely.
Four individuals have filed lawsuits against the state to have their names removed from the immunization exclusion list, all claiming violations of due process and similar legal grievances. In two cases that reached decisions, judges sided with the state. One case was withdrawn, and another is still ongoing.
Vaccine skepticism grows, religious exemption ended
Public skepticism regarding pediatric vaccines has been trending upward for several years. For example, a Gallup poll indicated that in 2001, 94% of Americans viewed childhood vaccinations as extremely or very important. By 2024, that figure had dropped to 69%.
In light of these growing doubts, New York eliminated religious exemptions for school immunization requirements in 2019.
Prior to this change, the falsification of vaccine records likely was relatively uncommon, as parents who opposed vaccines could claim religious reasons, even when that wasn’t truthful, according to Arthur Caplan, who is a bioethics professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and an expert on vaccine fraud. He pointed out that no major religion officially opposes vaccinations.
“Fraud expanded as the religious exemption option was removed,” Caplan noted.
Now, exemptions can only be granted if a doctor certifies that a vaccine would be “detrimental to a child’s health.”
Reportedly, some providers on the exclusion list experienced a spike in childhood vaccinations following the elimination of the exemption, as seen in the state’s immunization registry data. For instance, a pediatrician named Dr. Carlos Rivera had reported no vaccinations in 2019, but by 2023, that number had soared to 1,757. He faced suspension from administering childhood vaccines in February 2024.
Rivera opted not to participate in interviews. His attorney, Chad Davenport, contended that Rivera has done nothing wrong and wishes to clear his name. Davenport suggested that the uptick in vaccinations might warrant further investigation but should not suffice to place Rivera on the fraud list. The Health Department declined to comment on his case due to it being under investigation.
Some medical professionals from the fraud list argue that the Health Department misinterpreted genuine clerical errors and other minor mistakes as fraudulent activity.
The Department indicated in court documents that one doctor, Faiz Khan from Syosset, allegedly reported administering expired vaccines and entered some immunizations into the state registry over a year after they were supposedly administered. Since state law requires reporting within 14 days, his ability to give pediatric vaccines was suspended in May 2024. He subsequently filed a federal lawsuit in 2025 alleging violations of due process, which was dismissed by both district and appellate court judges.
Khan’s attorney, Jacques Simon, noted that discrepancies in records could result from simple mistakes, such as incorrectly typing numbers on a keyboard, rather than intentional fraud.
Khan was a founder and past executive vice president for CityMD.
Another practitioner, Dr. Jim Campasano from Bayport, was previously disciplined by the state for falsifying COVID-19 vaccination records pertaining to himself and his family. Following his guilty plea to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, the Health Department referred the case to the district attorney’s office as well as the Office of Professional Medical Conduct for investigation.
CityMD released a statement indicating that neither physician had been with the company for several years and affirmed full cooperation with the Health Department’s investigation, asserting no wrongdoing on the community’s part.
Those on the fraud list claimed that the Health Department rushes to suspend immunization privileges, and even if fraud is suspected, they should not be publicly listed until after investigations conclude.
Davenport, representing three of the individuals on the list, expressed concern about fairness in how practitioners are treated, suggesting that many should have the opportunity to defend themselves.
Clary did not specifically address whether practitioners are allowed to explain their situation before losing vaccination rights but noted that they have recourse through the courts.
“While there is no specific appeal process for suspensions, providers can and have challenged the Department,” she stated. “Multiple judges have examined these challenges and agreed with the Department’s stance.”
Simon, Khan’s attorney, expressed concern that early investigative findings unfairly damage reputations. He argued that due process is essential and that one cannot simply accept an investigator’s word without evidence: “Otherwise, everyone would be imprisoned based on a police officer’s testimony.”
Dr. Michael Purcell from Schenectady mentioned that he was never informed directly about the reasons for his suspension and only discovered his barred access when he attempted to upload vaccine information online.
In response to such complaints, Clary noted that the Department has updated its protocols to ensure medical professionals are notified when they are added to the NYSIIS suspension list.
Purcell believes his case was subjected to scrutiny because of his public opposition to COVID-19 vaccinations and due to his practice being associated with a midwife who admitted to falsifying COVID-19 vaccine records.
While Purcell advises against mandatory vaccinations, he clarified that he does not oppose vaccines altogether and has administered them to children whose families consented. He believes parents who resist vaccinations should be allowed to homeschool their children and denied any wrongdoing.
‘FRAUD ALERT’ website debate
At least eight of the 21 professionals have taken legal action against the state, contesting their immunization exclusions and placements on the fraud list. To date, the state has won every major ruling from judges, which experts say is not unexpected.
Dorit Reiss, a vaccine law expert, stated that the state is on solid legal ground but indicated that the ethical implications are more complex.
The fraud website prominently labels “FRAUD ALERT” at the top, followed by the list of professionals in question.
Experts argue that the state should take a more nuanced approach in its communication, discouraging implications that everyone listed is guilty of fraud and clarifying when some investigations are incomplete.
Abramson pointed out that medical professionals grant the state broad authority for regulatory oversight as a condition of their licenses, including notifying the public about potential fraud, even in cases where final determinations are pending.
“It’s certainly not akin to criminal proceedings, where one is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he noted.
However, he suggested that the state should notify practitioners prior to placing them on the list and develop a process, albeit informal, that allows them to present their defenses without needing to pursue litigation.
Some healthcare providers shared that they refrained from initiating lawsuits or appeals against decisions due to expense.
Still practicing
Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, who leads the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University, believes that the Health Department should refer cases with substantial evidence to regulators who conduct broader investigations into healthcare misconduct.
“If fraud is confirmed, those individuals should lose their licenses,” he asserted.
Interestingly, state records indicate that many medical professionals who have faced criminal convictions for fraud or state disciplinary actions continue to practice.
For instance, Sandra Miceli, a nurse practitioner from Webster, was permanently banned from administering childhood vaccines and fined $30,000 after it was found that she falsified records for approximately 116 children. Yet almost two and a half years later, there is still no disciplinary record against her in the Education Department’s files. Miceli could not be reached for comments.
The Health Department reported numerous irregularities in Miceli’s vaccination records, including the use of the same unique identification number for a five-dose vial 154 times and her being vocal about “anti-vaccine propaganda” on social media. Notably, she didn’t register her practice with the childhood immunization registry until a week after the elimination of religious exemptions.
When asked about her case, the Education Department stated it couldn’t comment on investigations and did not provide details about whether any investigations were ever initiated.
Several practitioners have indeed lost their licenses. Breen surrendered hers after being fined $150,000 for offering homeopathic pellets while falsely reporting them as vaccines. DeVuono, who had previously pleaded guilty to selling falsified COVID-19 vaccination cards, was fined $544,000 for administering similar homeopathic treatments to children instead of actual vaccines.
Dr. Eric Burnett, an assistant professor at Columbia University, emphasized that healthcare professionals who engage in fraudulent activity jeopardize public health and can contribute to outbreaks of dangerous, potentially fatal diseases.
“We have to hold these providers to a higher standard concerning public health,” he concluded.
