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
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING 'Just wait': Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city amid multiple reports
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.