Donors Invited To Get Vaccine From South FL Nursing Home: Report

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — With the coronavirus vaccine a scarce commodity, MorseLife Health System in West Palm Beach has offered some of its doses to wealthy donors and members of the board, The Washington Post reported.

In some cases, donors said the offers came by phone directly from Keith Myers, CEO of the high-end nursing home and assisted living facility, reports said.

MorseLife received the vaccines through a federal program targeting staff and residents of long-term care facilities. By offering doses to anyone else, the company might have violated state and federal immunization guidelines, reports said.

Though Myers didn’t comment on the matter, the Washington Post reached out to David S. Mack, a New Jersey-based real estate developer. Mack is chair of a foundation associated with the Palm Beach Country Club, which has donated to the nursing home, and is also a board member for several MorseLife affiliates.

Through a spokesman, Mack said he and his brother had “assisted” MorseLife with its vaccine distribution, reports said. Their spokesman, George Shea, said vaccinations were “conducted in full accordance” with an executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis which says vaccinations are currently designated for residents and staff of long-term care facilities, frontline health care workers, and seniors 65 and older.

State Rep. Omari Hardy criticized MorseLife for appearing to “selling access to this vaccine,” reports said.

On Twitter, the lawmaker, referring to MorseLife, posted, “There’s been one pandemic for the rich and (an) entirely different pandemic for the poor.”