State police arrested a Coram woman on Tuesday for allegedly forging vaccination records for eight children within the Middle Country Central School District. Health officials announced the charges against Stephanie Mills, who faces 17 first-degree felony counts for offering a false instrument for filing.
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According to Erin Clary, a spokeswoman for the state health department, the department’s investigation revealed that Mills had been forging professional signatures and submitting the documents herself. In fact, she self-identified as a ‘home maker’ on at least one of the submitted forms.
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As of Tuesday, Mills was unreachable for comment, and her age remains undisclosed.
Key Findings from the Case
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- Stephanie Mills’ Arrest: Mills was charged with 17 felony counts related to the falsification of vaccination records for eight students within the district.
- Allegations of Forgery: Mills was not a licensed healthcare provider and is alleged to have forged signatures of real healthcare professionals.
- Impact on Students: The school district excluded the eight children from attendance until they were able to present proof of their vaccinations as mandated by state law. Fortunately, all children have since returned to school.
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The fraud was reportedly carried out over a five-year period before it was uncovered, prompting the school district to alert the Suffolk health department, which escalated the matter to state authorities.
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The 17 counts against Mills correspond to each of the alleged forged records. Dr. James McDonald, the state Health Commissioner, condemned the act, noting that ‘Creating falsified vaccination records and submitting fraudulent immunization information to schools is a selfish and dangerous act that exacerbates the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases spreading through our communities.’
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Mills is scheduled for arraignment at the Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip on April 14. The health department is seriously considering imposing fines against another individual, Julie DeVuono, who is suspected of falsifying over 1,500 vaccination records.
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These events come at a troubling time, as various states, including New York, have reported outbreaks of measles, with confirmed cases currently on the rise. Two of the false records involving Mills related to purported measles vaccinations.
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Experts, such as Donna Hallas from New York University, have expressed concern that this case may just be the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to vaccine fraud, affecting not just children but the wider community as well.
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Dr. Hallas emphasized the importance of vaccines, stating, ‘Vaccines protect children and adults who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons and others who are unvaccinated.’ Furthermore, she criticized the misinformation surrounding vaccinations that misleads parents and undermines public health efforts.
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