Local health officials are concerned about counterfeit vaccination cards being detected at ports of entry across the British Virgin Islands.
Speaking on the matter recently was Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ronald Georges who said “Yes, we have detected situations where for example, dates don’t make any sense. We have seen lot numbers that don’t make any sense. We have seen cards that obviously don’t add up. We have seen cards from the BVI which have been falsified as well.”
Dr. Georges made the revelation while responding to Covid-19 related questions at the recently held Transportation-for-hire industry meeting.
The acting CMO said while local officials are on the lookout for fraudulent documents, corroboration remains a challenge as Caribbean and American cards do not carry a certifying QR code.
“The team is not fool proof because a lot of the cards coming out of the Caribbean and the US are the same handwritten cards that we see. The staff that do the approvals in the portal, they look and check for these things,” Dr. Goerges’ said adding, “I’m not saying we are 100% but we are looking out for them and we have detected them.”
“Those coming out of Europe, comes with a card with a QR code which can be checked. So that will be out of the UK and a lot Europe have those cards. But the majority of cards coming out of the US are those simple little cards,” he continued.
Dr. Georges also revealed that fake vaccination certificates are not the only types of forgeries being identified.
“It’s not just the bogus cards but it’s also the bogus test results and we are on the lookout for those.”
In an invited comment, Minister of Health and Social Development, Honorable Carvin Malone spoke to the dangers of falsifying documents.
Honorable Malone said “Our quest is to keep this Territory safe for LIVES and LIVELIHOODS. The illegal acts of producing false vaccination cards and COVID results is dangerous and deadly. Violators must and will be investigated, fined and prosecuted. Word to the wise STOP!!
Earlier this year, Cabinet made the decision to increase fines under the COVID-19 Control and Suppression (Entry of Persons) Regulations, 2020 in an effort to deter and penalize perpetrators.
Any person who contravenes the protocols or guidelines as set out in the Regulations now face a fine of $10,000.00 which is up from the initial $1000.00.
Fully vaccinated travelers have been notably subjected to less stringent protocols across the BVI and and extended world.
As a result, we have seen the proliferation of certificates as unvaccinated persons attempt to travel and access goods and services.