Tag Archives: vaccine cards

South Carolina nurse charged for allegedly making fake vaccine cards

A federal grand jury on Friday indicted a South Carolina nurse on two counts of producing fake vaccine cards, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina announced.

Tammy McDonald, 53, of Columbia, was also charged with lying to federal investigators, according to a press release from the attorney’s office. 

McDonald was arraigned Friday and released on a $10,000 bond.

She faces up to 15 years in prison for both counts of producing fake vaccine cards and up to five years for lying to investigators. 

The charges against McDonald are the first in the state, according to the attorney’s press release. 

Derrick Jackson, Special Agent in Charge with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General, said his office remains “committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate individuals who are exploiting the pandemic and people for personal gain.”

“The indictment alleges McDonald defrauded and endangered the public by creating and distributing fake COVID-19 vaccination cards,” he said in a statement. “Engaging in such illegal activities undermines the ongoing pandemic response efforts.”

McDonald was the director of nursing services at a hospital in Columbia. She allegedly created the fake vaccine cards on days in June and July, distributing them to patients she knew were not vaccinated, according to the indictment.

McDonald was questioned by federal investigators on Oct. 22, during which allegedly she lied about producing them.

In May, U.S. Attorney General Merrick GarlandMerrick GarlandDOJ launches civil rights probe into police department in New York suburb Appeals court grapples with DOJ effort to shield Trump from E. Jean Carroll suit Washington police investigating school board ‘Zoom-bombing’ incident as possible hate crime MORE created the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to combat fraudulent activity during the pandemic. The DOJ also charged a Baltimore man on Friday for allegedly distributing fake vaccine cards.

As of March, there were 1,200 sellers of fake vaccine cards in the U.S. and Europe, according to Checkpoint Software Technologies, a global security firm investigating the amount of fraudulent activity during the pandemic.



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How some are taking California’s new vaccine passport guidance

Beginning April 15, big indoor entertainment venues in California will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from patrons as a condition of expanding the number of people allowed in. Capacity will also depend on the level of restrictions in place at each county, which is based on the state’s reopening tiers. In the most restrictive purple tier, no indoor events are allowed.If venues separate people into sections, people in the “fully vaccinated” section can sit shoulder to shoulder but they still must wear masks, according to state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón.”This is really going to be a pathway to allowing venues to meet the capacity limits,” Aragón said.Aragón said at first, people will have to bring their vaccination card with them. But “we anticipate that in the future that the solution will be digital,” meaning people could potentially show proof of vaccination on their mobile phones.| More | ‘Excited to get back to work’: Sacramento venues, tourism officials prepare for return of indoor showsAs of right now, U.S. citizens only have a vaccination card that they either get stamped, or receive a sticker once they get their dose, or doses. But fraudulent copies of vaccination cards are popping up everywhere.Health care technician Ryan Sales of Elk Grove thinks they’re not necessary because everyone should be allowed in whether they’re vaccinated or not.”As long as they wear their mask and they follow the protocol, I think they should still be allowed to attend this kind of venue,” Sales said.Cornell Williams, of Oak Park, works for the Department of Healthcare Services in Sacramento. He hasn’t been vaccinated but thinks showing proof is necessary.”I know people who lost their lives, and you know what I’m saying? So I guess it’s a good thing,” Williams said.Mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19 means having accurate information on citizens and travelers as they move about. With the vaccination cards so easily duplicated, a universal passport system is being proposed which some countries are already using.”Yeah, that’s a real good idea,” Dunlap said. “That should’ve been done a long time ago.”Right now, there isn’t a single system in place in the U.S. Even county health leaders aren’t sure how this is going to work. Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County’s health officer, issued the following statement on Friday:”With the newly-released announcement from CDPH allowing for indoor live events or performances beginning April 15, Sacramento County Public Health is awaiting guidance from the state about how proof of vaccination will work.””Everyone wants to implement safety worldwide,” said Diana Pelayo of East Sacramento. “I think it’s just going to be something else the government is going to have to take on just to make sure everyone is vaccinated.–The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Beginning April 15, big indoor entertainment venues in California will require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from patrons as a condition of expanding the number of people allowed in.

Capacity will also depend on the level of restrictions in place at each county, which is based on the state’s reopening tiers. In the most restrictive purple tier, no indoor events are allowed.

If venues separate people into sections, people in the “fully vaccinated” section can sit shoulder to shoulder but they still must wear masks, according to state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón.

“This is really going to be a pathway to allowing venues to meet the capacity limits,” Aragón said.

Aragón said at first, people will have to bring their vaccination card with them. But “we anticipate that in the future that the solution will be digital,” meaning people could potentially show proof of vaccination on their mobile phones.

| More | ‘Excited to get back to work’: Sacramento venues, tourism officials prepare for return of indoor shows

As of right now, U.S. citizens only have a vaccination card that they either get stamped, or receive a sticker once they get their dose, or doses. But fraudulent copies of vaccination cards are popping up everywhere.

Health care technician Ryan Sales of Elk Grove thinks they’re not necessary because everyone should be allowed in whether they’re vaccinated or not.

“As long as they wear their mask and they follow the protocol, I think they should still be allowed to attend this kind of venue,” Sales said.

Cornell Williams, of Oak Park, works for the Department of Healthcare Services in Sacramento. He hasn’t been vaccinated but thinks showing proof is necessary.

“I know people who lost their lives, and you know what I’m saying? So I guess it’s a good thing,” Williams said.

Mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19 means having accurate information on citizens and travelers as they move about. With the vaccination cards so easily duplicated, a universal passport system is being proposed which some countries are already using.

“Yeah, that’s a real good idea,” Dunlap said. “That should’ve been done a long time ago.”

Right now, there isn’t a single system in place in the U.S. Even county health leaders aren’t sure how this is going to work.

Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County’s health officer, issued the following statement on Friday:

“With the newly-released announcement from CDPH allowing for indoor live events or performances beginning April 15, Sacramento County Public Health is awaiting guidance from the state about how proof of vaccination will work.”

“Everyone wants to implement safety worldwide,” said Diana Pelayo of East Sacramento. “I think it’s just going to be something else the government is going to have to take on just to make sure everyone is vaccinated.

–The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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