Young Florida women dressed as grandmothers for coronavirus vaccine – and it may have worked

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – With caps on their heads and faces with glasses, two young women pretended to be old so that they could get the coronavirus vaccine and it seems that their awakening would have worked at least once.

Dr. Raul Pino, of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, said the pair were caught trying to get their second blow Wednesday at the Orange County Convention Center.

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“We did not have any lack of weapons willing to be vaccinated. We also have people who pretend to be old enough to be vaccinated. Yesterday we realized that some young women came dressed as grandparents to be vaccinated for the second time, so I don’t know how they escaped the first time, but they came (to be vaccinated). Caps, gloves, glasses – everything and they were probably 20 years old “, said Pino.

It is not certain how or even if the two young women managed to receive the first doses, but when they showed up on Wednesday to complete the series, they presented a valid vaccination card.

“There were some issues with IDs and driver’s licenses, but I don’t know all the details about them,” Pino said.

He added that the vaccinators noticed that they “looked funny” and stopped them just before they could get gunshots.

The sheriff’s office in Orange County was called after they were caught processing a report on the situation and issuing warnings of violation of the two women. MEPs say their real names are on vaccination cards, but their date of birth does not match. One woman was 34 years old and the other 44 years old.

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There will also be an investigation to determine if they actually received the first blow.

“So part of the findings we have to make is that they were really vaccinated by us, when (they were) vaccinated, what happened, what date, what time to try to figure out if there are any holes, gaps in this process that allow people to do that, ”Pino said.

If the women had entered their correct birth dates when they registered for a date, they would have been blocked by the system because they were not old enough, but Pino said he could have used false information or received help from to someone who works on the site.

“People are becoming very, very worried about the administration of the vaccine, ‘I want it now.’ And some people get really emotional. So I can also see that someone said, “OK, we don’t have so many people, yes, pass.” So anything could have happened, “Pino said.

Although he knows there is a lot of anxiety, as residents wonder when they will be able to be inoculated, he urged them to be patient with this process, as the most vulnerable to COVID-19 receive the first fire.

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“It’s kind of hilarious for a certain sense, but it’s also disappointing because they take the place where someone else might have, in a much greater need, that place,” he said.

Pino noted that security has recently been increased at the site, which handles about 2,500 photos a day for people aged 65 and over, as well as health workers.

“We have seen an increase in the strange things that happen and people who are suspicious, people who monitor the site. Therefore, we requested additional security that was provided and we installed cameras and other security elements in the vaccination room “, said Pino.

The nurses were also approached as they left the shift at 10 pm by strangers who asked them if they still had to be photographed.

And Wednesday’s incident is not the first time an ineligible resident has tried to fool his way to get one of the coveted blows.

“It simply came to our notice then. They are all different and creative. There was another person who had the same name as his father, he came with a card, but a different birthday. But, you know, we have access to a lot of information. So, we can quickly check who is who, where they were born, you know, anything we can imagine, we have access “, said Pino.

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However, he knows that the two young women are not the only ones who sneak through the cracks.

“I think it’s bigger than we suspect, to be honest with you. Because we are involved in this process and we are trying to move people quickly, some people could sneak in, so it is probably bigger than we suspect, ”said Pino.

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