Fake COVID-19 vaccine entry made using Nawaz’s name

LAHORE: A fake coronavirus vaccine entry has been made using former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's name to the National Immunization Management System (NIMS) at the Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital, Lahore. Vaccinator Naveed Altaf at the Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Teaching Hospital made a fake entry of the first dose of Coronavac-Sinovac, Batch No. 202108168C, Wednesday (Sept 22) at 4:04pm. The first jab was also confirmed through registration of Nawaz Sharif’s CNIC on 1166 SMS service, which also conveyed date for the second shot would be issued shortly.

In addition to this, there are scores of complaints regarding issuance of fake certificates against hefty gratifications.

Under directions from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has constituted a four-member committee to probe fake entries of COVID-19 vaccination to the National Immunization Management System by the administration in Government Kot Khawaja Saeed Teaching Hospital and fix responsibility.

The committee comprising Ali Akbar Bhinder, Deputy Secretary (Admn) SHC&MED, convener and three members --- Amer Raza, Deputy Director (Biomedical) SM&IPU, Abdul Wahab, Project Coordinator/Incharge ICT Cell, SHC&MED, and Ahmar Khan, Project Director/Incharge (HISDU), Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD) --- will furnish its probe report within 48 hours for further action.

The administration of Kot Khawaja Saeed Teaching Hospital has suspended operators Abul Hassan and Adil Rafiq for making fake vaccination entries.

The MS has also formed a three-member committee comprising Dr Munir Ahmad, convener and Dr Salman Ahmad Khan and Dr Sultan Haroon as members. The committee will report within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the P&SHD has requested FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing to investigate and take necessary action against those who used Nawaz Sharif’s name make fake entry to the National Immunization Management System (NIMS).

Meanwhile, PMLN Vice-President Maryam Nawaz in a statement Thursday expressed concern over fake entry using the name of Nawaz Sharif and said it could put a question mark over the credibility of Pakistan’s official data about coronavirus prevalence and vaccination programme.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communications Dr Shahbaz Gill, meanwhile, said the vaccinators involved in Nawaz Sharif’s vaccination scandal have not only been suspended but are also being sent to prison.

In a tweet, he said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz officials would be exposed in their attempt to earn bad name for the country. Such elements would not succeed in their designs in the presence of Dr Yasmin Rashid, he said, adding that Dr Yasmin performed very well during the corona pandemic.