Claim
The iVerify team received an article on the WhatsApp Tipline, claiming that some people health personnel were issuing fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates, prompting the government through the Presidential Advisor for COVID-19 Professor Roma Chilengi to issue a warning on the matter. The COVID Vaccination Certificate is a validation that a person has taken his or her first dose of the vaccination or has successfully completed the vaccination course. The Certificate has an individual’s personal information that is also accumulated in the Covid-19 Vaccination Database.
Rating Justification
The fact checking process has determined as true the claim that some health personnel were issuing fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates to members of the public, prompting the government to issue a warning through the Presidential Advisor for COVID-19 Professor Roma Chilengi.
iVerify interviewed Professor Roma Chilengi through a phone on 3rd January 2022. In the interview, Chilengi explained that an anonymous person reported this matter and his team took up the investigation process. Professor Chilengi warned all health personals on the dangers of issuing fake Covid Vaccinations and the consequences that this has as it is against the Laws of Zambia. Professor Roma Chilengi also said, “the public should quickly report any person who is issuing out fake Covid Vaccination Certificates as this is an offense”. iVerify also fact checked a video from ZNBC TV News which also confirms that a report was received. In the video, during a briefing, Professor Roma Chilengi explained that they had received reports of health workers issuing Vaccine Certificates to individuals who do not want to be vaccinated. He further warned that: “doing such activities is a criminal offence and you can be arrested for it”.
