BOSTON (AP) — A sharp-eyed worker at a Massachusetts hospital is being credited with spotting a shipment of tens of thousands of counterfeit N95 surgical masks that could have potentially put the health of frontline medical workers at risk, officials said Monday.
Masks and other protective equipment have been in high demand during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to shortages of many products.
James “Barry” O’Shaughnessy, the manager of procurement of South Shore Health in Weymouth with 25 years of experience, recently placed an order for 30,000 masks — but when they arrived, he noticed something was awry.
“The labels on the boxes were placed differently than other shipments,” O’Shaughnessy said in a statement. “And the plastic bag inside the boxes had a strange seal. My gut told me something was off.”
He asked a 3M representative to help inspect the third-party masks that were not from a 3M-authorized distributor.
“I sent 20-30 photos of the product to 3M and the representative confirmed my suspicion. The masks were counterfeit,” he said.
The Department of Homeland Security seized the masks and is investigating.
“Barry’s deep experience and keen attention to detail helped protect thousands of South Shore Health employees from wearing counterfeit masks that would put them at risk,” President and CEO Dr. Allen Smith said. “We are grateful for his watchful eyes and dedication to the safety of our colleagues.”
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VACCINE ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION
More than 1 million additional Massachusetts residents became eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine on Monday.
Residents 55 and older and people with one certain medical condition can now sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine at any of the state’s 300-plus vaccination locations.
Officials warn, however, that depending on supply from the federal government, it could take weeks for people to be notified that an appointment is available at a mass vaccination site.
Eligible medical conditions include: cancer; chronic kidney disease; chronic lung diseases including COPD; moderate to severe asthma; pulmonary hypertension; diabetes; Down syndrome; heart conditions like heart failure and coronary artery disease; an immunocompromised state; liver disease; and obesity.
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