OK people, there's nothing to see here! Move along!
Posted on 10/28/2005 11:16:56 PM PDT by Bayou City
Man Charged In Fake Flu Shot Case
Shots Contain Purified Water
POSTED: 4:56 pm CDT October 28, 2005
UPDATED: 5:15 pm CDT October 28, 2005
HOUSTON -- A man was charged Friday, accused of intentionally administering fake flu shots to hundreds of ExxonMobil employees, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Iyad Abu El Hawa, 35, is accused of attempting to defraud Medicare by giving fake flu vaccines, according to U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. Officials said El Hawa substituted a purified form of water for the vaccine.
Investigators said the bogus flu shots were given at an ExxonMobil health fair on Oct. 19 and 20 at the Baytown refinery. About 1,100 people received them.
According to court papers, El Hawa admitted to giving the fake shots to the ExxonMobil employees and also to 14 senior citizens at a La Porte nursing home last Friday.
He also told federal agents he had done it other times, as well, officials said.
"This is a callous and disturbing crime. Mr. El Hawa purposely put at risk many, many people. He put at risk those who thought they were being inoculated against the flu, but in fact, were not. He also put at risk those who received a fake vaccine and those for whom that provide care," Rosenberg said.
El Hawa is the owner of Comfort & Care Home Health, 10101 Harwin, and operates two other facilities -- America Home Health and Universal Home Health Care Services.
He was arrested and placed in federal custody Thursday night. If convicted, El Hawa faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. More charges could be filed, prosecutors said.
Officials said the case came to light when a nurse called the FBI after El Hawa's employees were unable to supply a lot number for the vaccine.
"Iyad Abu El Hawa"?
No way would I let him stick a needle in me!
Nothing to see here. It's an isolated incident. You can trust him to not be a bio-terrorist. No need to panic. The government wouldn't lie to you.
I know what you mean. Now they need to send a team of investigators to check out the situations with all of the elderly at his home, etc.
FYI for those of you unfamiliar with Houston...
The Harwin area, where his office is located, is a hotbed of ME and Asian types who sell knock-off designer items at "wholesale" prices.
I heard about this yesterday on 950am and my hair stood on end! The report said it was saline in the syringe..... but holy cow!!!! What a really sneaky way to start some bio-terrorism. I hope Homeland Security is all over this one.
I pulled up a Satellite shot of the building, that is a big operation. No lawn, no landscaping, looks like a warehouse, and probably is!
OK people, there's nothing to see here! Move along!
Must've gone to the Dan Rather School of Innoculation: "My injections are fake but accurate!"
Why is this not 10 years and $250k for each fake shot?
Put this scumbag away for the rest of his life...
Exxon mobile put him up to it they were trying to save some $ on the vaccines, pretty strapped for cash right now. Bwwaahahahahahahahahahahah
I guess my attitude comes from living in Asia, but what I wonder about is how many times it does happen and never discovered or reported. Things like this happen all the time here.
BTW, there is no Dr. in front of this guy's name. Wouldn't he have to be an MD or at least masquerading as one? Not that that means an MD wouldn't do this.
Iyad Abu Taflu Vac Sinh.
I know... didn't they watch Law and Order?
Yes, of course, - I forgot about that.
???? How does stuff like this get past an editor?
With a name like this, they are probably lucky it was just purified water. Could have been some sort of terrorist plot to poison American workers.
Swampsniper, it absolutely is a warehouse district. Sort of like a huge strip center full of various "shops" who work out of fronts of the warehouses. No glitz, no glitter.
And Aggie Mama, you read my mind about the bio-terrorism. What an ideal way to make a massive hit on Americans. It's positively spooky!
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