Woman arrested after giving COVID vaccine to teen without parental consent, NY cops say
This story was updated on Jan. 24 to include additional details.
A woman — who’s not a doctor — was arrested after injecting a teen with a COVID-19 vaccine without parental consent, police in New York said.
The 17-year-old’s mom called police when he told her about his new vaccination status, according to a news release from the Nassau County Police Department.
Laura Parker Russo, 54, administered the jab at her Sea Cliff home in Long Island on Dec. 31 and was later arrested, the department said on Jan. 3.
“The mother had not given permission or authority to have her son injected with a Covid Vaccine,” police said.
Investigators found Russo isn’t a medical professional or authorized to vaccinate others, according to the department.
Russo is charged with unauthorized practice of a profession under the state’s education law, police said.
She was released and appeared in court on Jan. 21, according to the news release.
Russo, who was identified as a high school biology teacher on Long Island, pleaded not guilty to the felony charge against her, CBS New York and other outlets reported.
The 17-year-old she is accused of giving the vaccine to is her neighbor and a friend of her son, according to the outlet.
“I don’t know what her motivation was, obviously. As you’re aware, there was a video made of it,” Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said, WABC reported. “It was almost treated as if they were doing something funny. And it’s not funny when you’re breaking the law and injecting children.”
Russo was recorded giving the vaccine to the 17-year-old in a Snapchat video that’s been made public, according to the outlet.
“There was no ill-intented motive,” Russo’s defense attorney Michael DerGarabedian said, according to WABC. “She wasn’t making money. She wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. So figure it out yourself. She was trying to do good.”
Russo is due to appear in court again on Jan. 25, the outlet reported.
McClatchy News has reached out to police for further information.
In New York, consent for a child getting a COVID-19 vaccine must be given by a parent or guardian in person or on the phone.
Those ages 5 to 15 must have a parent or guardian with them at a vaccination site.
There have been more than 26,000 confirmed positive coronavirus cases in the state over the past seven days.
This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Woman arrested after giving COVID vaccine to teen without parental consent, NY cops say."
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