Criminals do catch up fast to the latest trends, with certain irresponsible parties already beginning to sell digital certificates "confirming" that an individual has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, online.

Dr Mohd Rushdan Mohd Noor, the Head of Department and Senior Consultant O&G, Consultant Gynae Oncologist at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar, took to Facebook recently to highlight the matter.

"It has started to be sold online. If the public is allowed to make a vaccine certificate identity card or print the vaccination certificate themselves, how can the authorities know between the genuine and the fake?" Mohd Rushdan reportedly asked in his post.

The certificate, displaying the photographer, as well as personal information of its bearer, as well as the date and location of the vaccine doses given, are being sold for as little as RM15 a piece, said the report.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has warned that stern action would be taken against any quarter that tries to forge the digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate in the MySejahtera application.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently announced that certain restrictions will be eased for those who are fully vaccinated, beginning Aug 10.

According to him, individuals who are fully vaccinated (14 days after the second dose of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines, and 28 days after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson or CanSino vaccines) will be allowed to travel across state and district borders to meet with their children aged below 18. The same would apply to long-distance married couples who are both fully vaccinated.

The same loosened restrictions will also apply in houses of worship and all the individuals have to do is present their COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate to the authorities.

Fully vaccinated individuals in states under Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan can also now enjoy several social activities, including dining-in at restaurants, and carrying out sports and recreational activities without physical contact.

The same applies to tourism activities involving homestays and hotels within the same state.

Many states in the country have transitioned to Phase Two, except for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Johor, Malacca, and Putrajaya, which are still stuck in Phase One due to consistently high number of COVID-19 cases.


Source: Kosmo, Bernama
Photo source: NST via Dr Mohd Rushdan's Facebook.