According to a report by Ginia Bellafante for The New York Times, doctors who wish to preserve their medical license are not allowing their rich patients to skip the line for their vaccination—although many have asked.
One Upper East Side concierge doctor, Edward Goldberg, who charges some patients $20,000 a year to have unlimited access to him, said that he’s actually been able to tell his patients—many of whom are not used to hearing “no”—“no” thanks to one Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York. Cuomo recently threatened to level fines of up to $1 million on providers who distribute vaccines out of turn. Who are these well-heeled people who hear “Can’t, Cuomo’s got my hands tied,” and back down immediately? But alas, here we are.
Still, as a part of a generation raised on Titanic, it would not shock me if we soon start hearing of successful work-arounds pulled by those who can—despite what their peers tell the paper of record—get that vax. Mrs. “Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?” and Mr. “I have a child!” are tattooed onto some lobe or cortex in our brains. Some folks were always going to try, and there’s reason to believe many will succeed.
One story out of Florida has already raised eyebrows. Page Six editor Emily Smith reported this week that real estate developers Bill and David S. Mack have been accused of flying their Manhattan friends down to Palm Beach, where they could get the vaccine at a local retirement home (a retirement home where David Mack is chairman). Florida, the get-out-of jail-free card of this country.
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