A pharmacist in British Columbia has been disciplined for faking his COVID-19 vaccination status during the height of the pandemic.
According to the Inquiry Committee of the BC College of Pharmacists (the College), Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh has been suspended for 30 days effective March 13.
In addition, Shaikh has also agreed to not be a preceptor for pharmacy students for a period of two years and will have a permanent letter of reprimand placed on his file with the College.
Shaikh, who has worked in various locations in BC, was working at a community pharmacy when the transgressions occurred on Aug. 8 and Aug. 30, 2021.
He admitted to the College that he entered COVID-19 vaccinations into his own PharmaNet records without having been administered the vaccines. This allowed him to obtain a vaccine passport.
According to the College’s decision, Shaikh altered his personal information on the pharmacy’s software in a manner that would make the records more difficult to find.
That included altering the spelling of his name and date of birth, as well as removing his personal health number and making the profile inactive.
“The vaccine passport could have been used to circumvent vaccination requirements both domestically and internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic,” noted the College’s decision.
“The false vaccine passport could have put the public at increased risk of harm. The registrant’s actions were self-serving and contrary to the conduct expected of a pharmacy professional.”
The College added that it considered Shaikh’s conduct a “serious matter” as defined under the Health Professions Act.
His suspension will end on April 11.
