Why Did Philadelphia Give COVID-19 Vaccines To An ...

Andrei Doroshin, CEO of Philly Fighting Covid, speaks to reporters before the start of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Jan. 8. Andrei Doroshin, CEO of Philly Fighting Covid, speaks to reporters before the start of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Jan. 8.It started out as a group of college friends who wanted to help during the pandemic. But Philly Fighting Covid could bill insurance companies $24 a dose for administering it."I just told you how many vaccines we want to do — you can do the math in your head," he said.A month later, Doroshin made a similar presentation, complete with colorful maps and a $2.7 million projected budget, to the Philadelphia City Council. Home health workers wait in line outside the convention center in Philadelphia at the Jan. 8 vaccination clinic held by Philly Fighting Covid, a startup company. Home health workers wait in line outside the convention center in Philadelphia at the Jan. 8 vaccination clinic held by Philly Fighting Covid, a startup company.The city relied on the fact that Philly Fighting Covid had registered as a vaccine provider with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.On Jan. 8, Doroshin and Kenney stood side by side at a press conference to kick off the first mass vaccination clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. A nurse demonstrates how to administer a COVID-19 vaccination at a clinic organized by Philly Fighting Covid on Jan. 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.The city soon began to back away from the group. He did not explain how Philly Fighting Covid ended up with extra doses after it turned away people, including seniors, who were in line waiting for the vaccine that same day.The city cut ties with Philly Fighting Covid on Jan. 25, citing the company's abandonment of its testing work and the company's new privacy policy, which would have allowed it to sell patient data. Philadelphia is home to four major health systems, including the University of Pennsylvania Medical system, which said it was prepared to ramp up community vaccination efforts as far back as November, well before the city started working with Philly Fighting Covid.