B.C. pharmacist who faked COVID vaccine suspended

A B.C. pharmacist who faked getting a COVID jab, and then got a vaccine passport, has been suspended for one month.

According to a March 10, College of Pharmacists of B.C. decision, Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh was working at an undisclosed community pharmacy in August 2021 when he faked his vaccination status.

The decision says Shaikh entered COVID-19 vaccination details into the PharmaNet system without actually getting the vaccine.

He falsely said another pharmacist had given him the vaccine and then changed the spelling of his name and date of birth to make make the records more difficult to find. He also made the profile inactive.

He then got himself a COVID-19 passport.

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"(Shaikh's) actions were self-serving and contrary to the conduct expected of a pharmacy professional," the decision reads. "The vaccine passport could have been used to circumvent vaccination requirements both domestically and internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. The false vaccine passport could have put the public at increased risk of harm."

The pharmacists' regulator suspended Shaikh for one month and he won't be able to supervise pharmacy students for two years.

The decision says Shaikh worked at pharmacies at "various locations" in B.C. but doesn't name them.

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No other details are given in the decision.

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