State Health Department Removes Pediatric Vaccination Records From State Immunization Registry Following Investigation Into Wild Child Pediatrics' Fraudulent Vaccination Practices

Approximately 135 Children from Long Island and Hudson Valley Require Immunizations to Stay in School

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 9, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health today voided pediatric immunization records for approximately 135 children, all school-aged or younger, whose purported vaccinations were found to have been falsified by former Suffolk County nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono who did business as Wild Child Pediatrics. Although immunization records are required for attendance at any New York State school or day care, affected students will not have to miss any school so long as they become fully up to date with age-appropriate immunizations, or begin the process of receiving missing vaccinations, within 14 calendar days of the start of the new school year.

State Health Department Division of Legal Affairs' Bureau of Investigations Director Joseph Giovannetti said, "Today's actions, which mitigate the threat to public health created by Julie DeVuono and her years-long pediatric vaccination scheme, will help keep communities across Long Island and beyond healthy and safe this school year. They also make clear the Department's commitment to rooting out, combating and preventing all cases of immunization fraud."

State Health Department Division of Vaccine Excellence Medical Director Dr. Debra Blog, MD, MPH, said, "Vaccinations are safe and effective at preventing many diseases and are vital to protecting public health, especially in school settings. The Department's Division of Vaccine Excellence is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of our school communities and building confidence among parents and guardians that when their children go to school, their peers are up to date with the appropriate immunizations. We will continue to work with the Department's Division of Legal Affairs to identify and address vaccination concerns and keep communities in New York State safe."

An investigation by the Department of Health's Bureau of Investigations determined that DeVuono, previously of Amityville, N.Y., submitted information to the New York State Immunization Information System ("NYSIIS") about hundreds of standard pediatric vaccinations that were never administered. Her false vaccination scheme mostly included children from Long Island and the Hudson Valley but may also have included children from New York City and as far as the Capital District. The investigation, which is ongoing, has already found that DeVuono falsified over 1,500 pediatric vaccinations.

The Department has served DeVuono with notice of administrative charges for alleged violations of Public Health Law. A hearing is scheduled for November 19 and DeVuono could face a penalty of up to $2,000 per falsified entry of a vaccination in NYSIIS.

This investigation follows DeVuono's arrest in January 2022 on charges related to her large-scale COVID-19 vaccination card scheme. The Department worked with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General on that investigation. DeVuono pled guilty to criminal charges related to the COVID-19 vaccination scheme in September 2023 and was sentenced in June 2024 pursuant to a plea agreement. Among other things, the plea agreement required DeVuono to surrender her nursing licenses and forfeit more than $1.2 million of proceeds from her COVID crimes.

The vaccinations that were part of the scheme included: diphtheria, tetanus toxoid-containing and pertussis vaccination (DTaP or Tdap); hepatitis B vaccination; measles, mumps and rubella vaccination (MMR); measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (Chickenpox) vaccination (MMRV); polio vaccination; varicella (Chickenpox) vaccination; meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MenACWY and MCV4); and the Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccination (HiB) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) required for day care and pre-k.

The immunizations currently required by New York State for enrollment and attendance in schools can be found here.

In New York State, children attending day care and pre-k through Grade 12 must receive all required doses of vaccines according to the New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance to attend or remain in school. This includes all public, private, and religious schools. A medical exemption is allowed when a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine. Effective June 2019, PHL § 2164 only allows for medical exemptions to school immunization requirements.

The Department has deleted the false immunization information that DeVuono submitted to NYSIIS and is in the process of contacting the families of affected children to inform them that their children's records of vaccinations are no longer valid and do not satisfy New York's requirements for school enrollment and attendance. Under Public Health Law, schools must exclude an affected student within 14 calendar days of the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year unless they are provided with proof of immunization or proof that the affected student has received the first round of all required age-appropriate vaccinations and is scheduled to receive required additional doses according to the ACIP-approved schedule.

The Department has also identified and contacted all affected schools to inform them that students' fraudulent vaccinations have been voided, reminded them of their obligation to exclude unvaccinated and under-vaccinated students, and instructed them on required next steps.

As the Department continues its investigation, it anticipates identifying more fraudulent vaccinations. The Department will remove them from NYSIIS and notify the affected schools and families. Families that know their children did not receive ACIP-approved vaccinations from Wild Child Pediatrics should begin vaccinations now to be in process and avoid disruption to their children's school enrollment and attendance.

Over the summer, the Department sent notice to pediatric health care providers warning them against entering vaccinations purportedly administered by Wild Child Pediatrics into NYSIIS and recommending that any former Wild Child patients be tested to determine if they were actually immunized. The Department also sent notice to school districts warning them against accepting any Wild Child vaccination records that have been removed from NYSIIS or that were never entered into the database in the first place.

The State Health Department continues to partner with, engage, educate, and support school officials, local health departments, law enforcement, and other stakeholders statewide around increased awareness, detection, reporting, and enforcement of vaccination fraud. A vaccination-fraud fact sheet may be accessed on the Department's website to help recognize potentially fraudulent immunization records.

The U.S. has the most effective vaccine supply in its history with systems in place that ensure vaccines are safe. Vaccination is the best protection from preventable serious diseases. Learn more about vaccine safety, here.

Find more information on New York's Immunization Laws and Regulations, here.

Find more information about school vaccination fraud and other investigations conducted by the Department, here.

New Yorkers can report vaccine fraud by calling 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) or emailing STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov.