Fake vax cards appear; police called in

Bogus vaccination cards have made their way onto the black market, prompting health authorities to urge the fakers to cease the practice.

Co-coordinator of the National Vaccination Programme, Major David Clarke, said the Royal Barbados Police Force is aware of the activity where the cards are being sold for as much as $200 a piece.

Threatening that anyone caught selling the cards will be prosecuted, Major Clarke emphasised that the valid blue cards were free of charge and are issued by a certified health care professional to individuals who have been vaccinated.

The development comes as Government ramps up its national vaccination campaign with roving mobile vaccinations in densely populated communities this week.

The campaign entered its second day of operation with two mobile sites located in the Pine and Haynesville housing areas on Friday.

Several residents of the communities took advantage of the opportunity and waited patiently for their turn to get the shot or to have their children receive a dose.

Health Sister Marcel Rice who worked the Pine community site said that the response has been good, with young people still coming out in their numbers for the jab.

“So far it’s been a good response, a very good response I must say,” Rice said. “There has been a steady increase in numbers over the course of the day, with the residents yesterday [in Silver Hill] and today being very receptive towards this mobile vaccination option.

“The young persons have been coming out to get vaccinated, they came out later today, giving the older persons in the community the chance to get vaccinated early, but yes, they have been coming out,” she explained.

Rice also said that Barbadians had limited questions for the health professionals when it came to their turn to get the vaccine, with many only asking which vaccine they will be able to get during the course of the day.

“[Everyone] has been asking the routine questions – which vaccines are available, which ones are best for them, and those are questions being asked from across the board from the older persons in the community to the youngest person who is able to have it.

“Everybody wants to know which is the best one, however, Pfizer is the one allocated for persons between 12 and 18 years old, and the older persons will have the choice between the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Pfizer.”

At Haynesville, Corporal Elford Chandler of the Barbados Defence Force who has been assisting with the vaccination programme since its inception said the numbers were still looking good for the community sites, as just over 60 people were vaccinated at the mobile spot in Deacons Farm on Thursday. He noted that the site at Haynesville is expected to surpass that number easily by the end of Friday. (SB)