B.C. pharmacist who faked his COVID-19 vaccinations suspended for 30 days
A British Columbia pharmacist has been disciplined for claiming to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and falsifying provincial health records to hide his unvaccinated status.
The College of Pharmacists of BC says on a post on its website that its inquiry committee has suspended Aftabahmed Shaikh for 30 days and placed a permanent letter of reprimand on his file.
In the post dated March 10, the college says Shaikh was practising in “various locations” in B.C. and admits to twice entering COVID-19 vaccinations into his PharmaNet record without receiving the shots.
The college says its inquiry also found that Shaikh altered the pharmacy's software to make his records more difficult to find.
The college says Shaikh's actions were “highly unethical and amounted to professional misconduct.”
It says the suspension and other penalties, including a two-year ban on tutoring pharmacy students, are “necessary to protect the public, (and) send a clear message of deterrence to the profession.”
The inquiry found Shaikh's creation of faked PharmaNet records helped him obtain a COVID-19 vaccine passport that could have been used to evade domestic and international vaccine mandates during the pandemic.
“The false vaccine passport could have put the public at increased risk of harm,” writes the college, adding it considers Shaikh's conduct a “serious matter.”
Shaikh's suspension began on March 13 and the college statement shows he will be eligible to resume working as a pharmacist on April 11.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.