Overview
Jeannette Breen, a midwife from Baldwin, NY is facing a $300,000 fine after an investigation found that she falsified vaccine records for nearly 1,500 schoolchildren on Long Island by giving them homeopathic pellets instead of legitimate vaccines.
The Nassau County Department of Health uncovered the scheme after a parent filed a complaint about suspicious paperwork from Breen’s office. Further scrutiny revealed the shocking truth – Breen had been deceiving parents and putting children’s health at risk for years.
Now hundreds of students face removal from school for not having up-to-date vaccines, even though their parents believed they were properly immunized. Meanwhile Breen may lose her medical license and the ability to practice midwifery.
Key Details
- Breen gave children homeopathic pellets she claimed would stimulate the immune system instead of FDA-approved vaccines
- She then fabricated state paperwork to show the children received vaccines like MMR, hepatitis B, and meningitis when they did not
- Nearly 1,500 students in Nassau, Suffolk and Erie counties had falsified vaccine records from Breen’s practice
- Students now risk removal from school if they cannot prove they are up to date on required immunizations
- Breen was fined $300,000 and may have her license revoked for the “egregious” violations
Reaction
Health officials expressed shock and outrage at Breen’s long-running scheme.
“It undermines the efforts we have made as a county to increase our vaccination rates to prevent another measles outbreak,” said Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein.
“To manufacture false documents for profit and personal convenience over the health and well-being of children puts an entire population of students and residents at risk,” said Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, Nassau County Health Commissioner.
Parents were also horrified to learn their children were likely vulnerable to dangerous diseases because critical vaccines were skipped.
“I’m beyond angry. I’m disgusted,” said June Polce, who brought her children to Breen. “This is so much bigger than just falsifying some paperwork.”
Background
Breen has been a licensed and registered midwife operating Home Sweet Home Midwifery Services in Baldwin for over 10 years. She provided prenatal care, delivery services and wellness care for mothers and infants.
Sources say Breen believed vaccines “bombard immune systems” rather than protect children. She began advising new mothers not to follow the CDC schedule for childhood vaccines. Instead, she claimed her homeopathic pellets would safely build immunity.
By fabricating state vaccine forms, Breen made it appear her patients received required shots for school and daycare enrollment. Her alternative therapy put all those children and their classmates at heightened risk for contagious illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and bacterial meningitis.
What’s Next
The stunning revelations about Breen’s practices have far-reaching implications for public health and oversight of licensed caregivers.
Nassau County authorities continue investigating and say criminal charges are possible. They must also track down hundreds of potentially vulnerable students and ensure they get caught up on legitimate immunizations. Parents face difficult conversations with children who must grasp the gravity of the midwife’s betrayals.
Meanwhile state regulators will pursue medical license revocation or suspension for Breen over her dangerous deceptions. Her career caring for new mothers and infants is likely finished.
The case also underscores the need for digital vaccine tracking systems to replace paper records. If states shift to secure digital databases, it will help curb potential abuse and verify children’s immunity status.
Key Impacts
- 1,500+ long island students at risk after midwife scandal
- 300 schoolchildren removed from schools so far
- 93% national immunization goal may be set back
- Measles danger heightens without herd immunity
- Parent-pediatrician trust may suffer after betrayal
The damage from Breen’s outrageous violations cannot be fully calculated. But officials vow such abuses of public health will not recur. This case spotlights the need for better oversight and child wellness networks that put safety first.
Timeline of Midwife Vaccine Scandal
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Breen begins advising against standard vaccine schedule |
| 2017 | Breen starts giving homeopathic pellets & faking paperwork |
| Jan 2023 | Parent files complaint about Breen’s records |
| Fall 2023 | Health dept uncovers breadth of violations |
| Jan 18, 2024 | Authorities announce findings, penalties |
| Spring 2024 | Hundreds of students removed from schools |
| Mid 2024 | Breen’s midwife license revocation hearings |
Quotes on Midwife Scandal
“It undermines the efforts we have made as a county to increase our vaccination rates to prevent another measles outbreak.”
- Gale Burstein, Erie County Health Commissioner
“To manufacture false documents for profit and personal convenience over the health and well-being of children puts an entire population of students and residents at risk.”
- Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, Nassau County Health Commissioner
“I’m beyond angry. I’m disgusted. This is so much bigger than just falsifying some paperwork.”
- June Polce, parent of Breen’s patients
Key Details
- Fake vaccine records created for nearly 1,500 students
- Homeopathic pellets used instead of FDA-approved shots
- Students now vulnerable to diseases like measles
- $300K fine levied against Breen midwife practice
- Medical license revocation possible over violations
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