Antigua and Barbuda: Nurse accused of issuing fake vaccine cards suspended
An investigation has been launched into the conduct of an Antiguan health care worker after it was revealed that she distributed fake coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination cards.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment did not detail the person’s employment status in the public service. Still, media reports suggest she was a volunteer nurse at a vaccination site.
The nurse allegedly charged over EC$1,000 per vaccine card.
At least 40 persons with fake vaccine cards issued by the now-suspended nurse have been identified.
These individuals have since taken the vaccine, according to a note from yesterday’s cabinet meeting.
Minister of Information Melford Nicholas expressed confidence today in the state’s ability to root out any incidence of vaccine fraud.
“We have taken extra care to ensure that there is alignment with information that is resident in the databases that have been taken at the clinics and all of the vaccination centres to ensure that when we issue a card there is a match,” he said while explaining the slow process for the vaccine IDs to be delivered.
Over 55,400 residents and nationals of Antigua and Barbuda are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The government plans to vaccinate 60,000 people by December 31.
The country uses the Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sputnik V vaccines in its vaccination exercise.
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