The possibility of Jamaicans using or selling fake vaccination cards is a looming concern; one that will not be tolerated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Giving insight into how these counterfeit cards can be detected Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton is exploring a digital approach to preserving vaccination information in the future.
Headlines coming out of foreign countries tell the tale of people working the system and making an illicit profit by producing fake vaccination cards. As more employers mandate vaccination for their employees’ concern grows about the production of counterfeit cards in the country; cards that Jamaicans may use to commit fraud.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness has heard of fake vaccination cards being used and has measures to deal with detected cases.
Minister Tufton assures that the validity of cards can be checked through a database the ministry uses to keep track of vaccinations. Looking to the long term however adapting vaccination information in a digital format is an inevitability.
Though some fully vaccinated citizens feel safe against the COVID-19 virus, they aren’t protected from discrimination in travel. Recently the UK announced that the vaccination programme in Jamaica was not recognized in their travel advisory.
This means that travelers from Jamaica would be subject to quarantine measures and other protocols no matter their vaccination status. The Ministry of Health and Wellness says global partners in health will have to find a universal solution.
More in this CVM Live story from Jhanielle Powell:
