Coronavirus vaccine: Wealthy patients in Southern California offering top dollar to cut in line
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While the nation continues to see record levels of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, wealthy patients in Southern California the epicenter of the state s COVID-19 crisis are offering to pay top dollar to cut the line and be among the first to receive a vaccine.
At a number of concierge medical practices in Southern California, doctors say they ve received calls from their well-off clients asking if they can have early access to the extremely limited supply of vaccine doses in exchange for a financial contribution to a hospital or charity.
Gray Malin
Los Angeles well-heeled are offering doctors as much as $25,000 for priority access to coronavirus vaccines, The Los Angeles Times reported.
The US approved a vaccine from Pfizer on December 11, with the CDC and the California Department of Public Health saying healthcare personnel and care home residents come first.
But wealthy Californians are offering large sums to skip the queue regardless. People are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars, Dr.Jeff Toll, who works with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said.
Dr. Ehsan Ali, the head of Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor, said: We get hundreds of calls every single day
Wealthy patients scramble for COVID-19 vaccine
Student pharmacist Wilbur Quimba dilutes vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/TNS
Los Angeles Times
Published: 12/19/2020 10:51:38 AM
LOS ANGELES They’re offering tens of thousands of dollars in cash, making their personal assistants pester doctors every day, and asking whether a five-figure donation to a hospital would help them jump the line.
The COVID-19 vaccine is here and so are the wealthy people who want it first.
“We get hundreds of calls every single day,” said Dr. Ehsan Ali, who runs Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor. His clients, who include Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, pay $2,000 to $10,000 a year for personalized care. “This is the first time where I have not been able to get something for my patients.”
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Rich Americans in California are offering to buy their way to the front of the coronavirus vaccine line as the state continues to see a surge in infections and deaths, reports have said.
Speaking to CNN, a number of concierge doctors in the area say have received a number of requests for early access to the new vaccine in return for premium payments or donations.
Dr Jeff Toll, whose boutique internal medicine practice has admitting privileges at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said his high-profile clients have offered large sums in turn for prioritisation.
The doctor told outlets that one of his clientele, which includes chief executives and entertainment figures, offered to donate $25,000 to the hospital for early access to the shot.
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They’re offering tens of thousands of dollars in cash, making their personal assistants pester doctors every day, and asking whether a five-figure donation to a hospital would help them jump the line.
The COVID-19 vaccine is here and so are the wealthy people who want it first.
“We get hundreds of calls every single day,” said Dr. Ehsan Ali, who runs Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor. His clients, who include Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, pay between $2,000 and $10,000 a year for personalized care. “This is the first time where I have not been able to get something for my patients.”