Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT:       Kristy dosReis

March 23, 2021                                                                                         (401) 274-4400 x2234

                                                                                                                 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                                                                                                                 Twitter @AGNeronha

 

Statement from Attorney General Neronha on review of vaccine distribution by Lifespan and Care New England

 

“In late January 2021, the Attorney General’s Office undertook a review of Lifespan and Care New England (CNE) in response to public reports that Lifespan and CNE had offered their respective board members an opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which at that time was in limited supply and intended for the use of frontline healthcare workers. The purpose of that review was to determine what guidance the hospitals received from the Rhode Island Department of Health regarding the early phases of their vaccine rollout and whether they had complied with that guidance, the state law or regulations.

 

Today, this Office shared its findings and recommendations with the leaders of Lifespan, Care New England and RIDOH.  A copy of the letter is also made available to the public here.

 

In sum, the review conducted by this office concluded that: (1) RIDOH did not provide Lifespan or CNE with specific guidance regarding prioritization during the initial vaccination phase, (2) because RIDOH gave Lifespan and CNE wide discretion in vaccinating their hospital staff, including vaccination prioritization, we cannot find that Lifespan or CNE violated any specific directives, policies or laws in connection with their decision to vaccinate board members.  Nevertheless, for reasons set forth in the letter, this Office strongly believes that Lifespan and CNE should have acted differently. By offering vaccinations to all of their board members, irrespective of any individualized criteria applicable to Rhode Islanders generally, at a time when Rhode Islanders were gravely concerned about their health and that of their loved ones, Lifespan and CNE erred, and significantly so. This erosion of public confidence in the fairness of the process undermines broader willingness to follow the rules.

 

This unfortunate episode highlighted the consequences of straying too far from those public health principles that have guided vaccine distribution in Rhode Island: vaccinating those who are at greatest risk of spreading, contracting, and dying from COVID-19. As Rhode Island’s health care advocate, we hope that these principles continue to guide our vaccine distribution policies in the state.”

 

 

###

 

 Follow us on social media! 
Senators will make another attempt today to end the federal government shutdown, now in its third week. A vote is planned but there's little sign of progress toward funding the government with both Democrats and Republicans seemingly dug in.        Israel says it's going to keep up the pressure on Hamas until all the bodies of dead Israeli hostages are returned. All 20 living hostages were returned Monday as part of a U.S.-back ceasefire deal. But the Palestinian militant group only returned four of the 28 dead hostages, sparking anger among Israelis. The Israeli government's hostage coordinator insists the mission is not complete until all of the hostages are back.        The White House will celebrate the late Charlie Kirk today, on what would have been his 32nd birthday. President Trump said he'll be posthumously awarding the slain conservative activist the Presidential Medal of Freedom.        Pete Hegseth says "standards are back" at the War Department. The Secretary of War's comment came in response to a move from the Texas Military Department to replace some of its National Guard troops deployed to Chicago with those who "meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards." A photo of a group of Guardsmen has gone viral as the image showed seemingly heavyset troops which prompted social media users to point out Hegseth's controversial military fitness standards.        More than 150 unvaccinated South Carolina children are quarantined for measles exposure. The children, from two schools in Spartanburg, will miss class for 21 days, the period of potential transmission. South Carolina is the latest state to experience a measles outbreak this year and cases across the U.S. have reached the highest level in 30 years.        The MLB postseason continuing with the Championship Series. The Mariners blew out the Blue Jays 10-3 and are heading back home with a commanding, 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven ALCS. Game Three takes place on Wednesday. The defending champion Dodgers drew first blood against the league-best Brewers 2-1 from Milwaukee. The NLCS continues up North with today's Game Two.       

Old News Archives