Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) says “vulnerable people” in the city’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) have been offered payment to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by those attempting to obtain a vaccine passport without actually receiving the injection..“This behaviour is deplorable and we’re disappointed that anyone would take advantage of vulnerable people in this way in an attempt to circumvent the process for receiving a BC Vaccine Card,” said VCH in a statement, adding that further incidences may be forwarded to police..Fraudulent vaccination records are being removed from the provincial registry, with cards being revoked, according to VCH..In December, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix said around 2,000 cases of vaccine fraud were being investigated in the province..Regarding fake vaccine credentials being obtained through the paid injection of strangers specifically, these incidents appear to be minimal despite public discourse suggesting large swaths of people are running amok on the DTES in search of takers..“I don’t have the number off-hand, I don’t think it’s many,” a VCH representative told the Western Standard..“From what I understand, it’s a handful of incidences.”.Proof-of-vaccination against COVID-19 must be provided in order to access a wide variety of settings and services in BC, with the list of what unvaccinated individuals cannot do steadily increasing..During a September 20, 2021 staff forum, the Chief Medical Health Officer of VCH, Dr. Patricia Daly said vaccine passports are not intended to prevent transmission, but rather incentivize vaccine uptake..“The vaccine passport requires certain people to be vaccinated to do certain discretionary activities such as go to restaurants, movies, gyms… not because these places are high risk,” said Daly..“We’re not actually seeing COVID transmission in these settings, it’s really to create an incentive to improve our vaccination coverage.”.Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
