A mother and her two daughters have been charged for providing fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards to maintain and obtain employment at a New York nursing home. The individuals have each been charged with felony criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. Vaccination is mandatory for nursing home employment in New York.
It is alleged that the mother who is employed as a nurse at the New York nursing home, and her two daughters who are both applicants for nursing assistant positions, each submitted a copy of a forged COVID-19 vaccination record card for employment purposes. They are scheduled to appear in court on March 14, 2022.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett stated, “Vaccination fraud is a serious crime. It creates a threat to public health and undermines the safety of our healthcare professionals who are working around the clock to get us through the pandemic. For those who choose to flout the law and endanger their patients and others around them, you will be held accountable.”
To report vaccine-related fraud in New York contact the New York State Department of Health by calling 833-VAX-SCAM (833-829-7226) or emailing STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
All nursing facilities must ensure that their staff meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements or one of the exceptions in their specific states. Employees and applicants of a nursing facility must provide truthful information regarding their vaccination status. When copies of COVID-19 vaccination cards are presented by the person claiming to have completed the requirements, it is essential that the documentation is reviewed for authenticity.
Discussion Points
- Review your policy and procedure related to COVID-19 vaccination of facility staff, ensuring that your policy provides guidance on what is considered an authentic COVID-19 vaccination record. Update your policy as needed.
- Train appropriate staff to ensure authenticity of COVID-19 vaccination records. Document that this training occurred and place the signed copy of the training record in the employee’s education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination records are authentic.
