Authorities arrest biology teacher after she reportedly administers COVID-19 vaccine to teen without parental consent

Police arrested a 54-year-old biology teacher after she was reportedly seen on video administering a COVID-19 vaccine to a teen without parental approval.

What are the details?

The administration, according to local reports, took place in Russo's home.

Video footage of the interaction appears to show Russo cleaning the teen's arm with gauze before seemingly injecting him with what is believed to be a COVID-19 vaccine.

Following the shot, the teen can be heard saying, "There you go, at-home vaccine."

The teen, an unnamed 17-year-old boy, reportedly went home after the interaction and told his mother that he'd received a vaccine against the coronavirus.

Police say that the teen's mother called police, who launched an investigation into the allegation.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, authorities ultimately charged Russo under state education law with unauthorized practice of a profession.

It is unclear how the teacher obtained the vaccine.

What else is there to know about this?

Russo, who is employed with the Herricks School District, has been removed from the classroom and reassigned pending an investigation into the incident.

Russo is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 21.

Neighbor Peter Mandzych told WCBS-TV that he's gravely concerned about the allegation.

“It would send panic to the public if there are people out there giving false vaccination,” Mandzych said.

Neighbor Vivian Zampino added, "I’m in shock. I don’t even know how to get access to it. How is it even possible?”

Dr. Aaron Glatt, Mount Sinai South Nassau's chair of medicine, said that the injection could have caused serious issues if improperly administered.

"Besides being illegal, it's just not a smart thing to do," he said. "An authorized, licensed professional should be providing vaccines to know how to give them properly to make sure if there's a complication that can be dealt with immediately and very efficiently."

A release from the Nassau County Police stated:

The Sixth Squad reports the details of an Arrest for the Unauthorized Practice of a Profession that occurred on Friday, December 31, 2021 at 6:30 PM in Sea Cliff.

According to Detectives, defendant Laura Parker Russo, 54, of 55 Summit Avenue was at her home residence where she administered an injection of what is believed to be a Covid Vaccine to a 17-year-old male victim. The male victim went home and informed his mother what had occurred. The mother had not given permission or authority to have her son injected with a Covid Vaccine and called Police. After an investigation was conducted, it was discovered that defendant Laura Parker Russo is not a medical professional or authorized to administer vaccines and was placed under arrest without incident.

Defendant Laura Parker Russo is charged with New York State Education Law Unauthorized Practice of a Profession. She was released and issued an Appearance Ticket returnable to First District Court, located at 99 Main Street, Hempstead on Friday, January 21, 2022.