Following Moma press conference, questions remain on what led to wasted vaccines
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The owner of Dr. Moma Health and Wellness Clinic held a press conference Monday. However, Sylvienash Moma, the owner and nurse practitioner, didn't speak at her press conference.
Friday, 13 Investigates obtained inspection documents from the El Paso County Health Department detailing concerns over vaccines stored in bowls, syringes at room temperatures, and possibly falsified record-keeping.
Elizabeth Higgins, a spokesperson for Moma, initially applied to distribute vaccines after contracting COVID-19 herself.
Higgins went on to say the clinic has an approved storage unit and all other requirements for distributing vaccines were met by Moma and her staff.
According to Higgins, the state granted permission to allow Dr. Moma Health and Wellness Clinic is becoming a mass vaccination clinic.
Additionally, Higgins backed up Moma's claims that the Colorado Department of Health and Environment never did a compliant site visit before administering vaccines, despite that being part of the previous CDPHE requirement to distribute vaccines.
That inspection policy has since been changed to "as necessary" after 13 Investigates pressed state health leaders for answers on if they violated their own vaccine provider policy.
Higgins also said the reason the Moma hadn't given a statement earlier was that they weren't able to due to the ongoing investigation.
They announced another press conference will be held after the investigation is over. During that press conference, Higgins said Moma will answer questions.
When asked what Moma would say to the thousands of Coloradans stuck in the middle of the investigation, Higgins said, "Everybody needs to do their research and to maybe take a moment to breathe until you actually get all of the accurate information that the public deserves to have. And we are not at that point yet."
However, 13 Investigates managed to ask Moma one question before she went back into the office.
Chief Investigative Reporter Chelsea Brentzel asked if there was anything she wanted to say to the public and the people who were vaccinated.
In response, Moma said, "We sincerely reach out to everyone who has been directly impacted and indirectly impacted by this event. We are working with the state and everyone involved to make sure we rectify all of the allegations and concerns that have been raised."
Kim Aronstam was vaccinated for COVID-19 at Dr. Moma Health & Wellness Clinic the day the state shut down the clinic on April 9. Aronstam was hoping to get more answers from the press conference.
"I expected them to have their lawyer or someone like that doing it, but not some random person off the street," said Aronstam about Higgins who identified herself as a sports medicine trainer.
It's unclear how long the state investigation into Moma's clinic will take or if she will be fined for mishandling thousands of vaccines.
KRDO reached out to CDPHE and El Paso County Public Health regarding the claims Moma is making. The CDPHE said they don't have additional information at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
Watch the full press conference here.
If you have a tip you want our team to investigate, email us at 13Investigates@krdo.com.
