B.C. nurse loses licence for 6 months after helping create fake vaccine cards

A nurse in B.C.'s West Kootenay region has had her licence suspended for six months for helping produce fake COVID-19 vaccine cards.

Registered nurse Sarah Jones of Castlegar will also have to undergo remedial education in professional ethics, according to a public notice posted Friday by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives.

The notice says Jones has signed a consent agreement with the college over professional misconduct committed in 2021 "arising from the use of her position, experience, credibility in public health, and her knowledge of the vaccination system to effect the fraudulent creation of four vaccine cards."

It goes on to say that Jones gave different stories about what happened when she talked to her employer, witnesses and the college.

"Her conduct was deemed a marked ethical departure from the conduct expected of a nurse," the notice says.

The B.C. government has said that all incidents of suspected fraud connected to the provincial vaccine registry will be referred to the police.

A spokesperson for the college said she couldn't provide any information about whether Jones's actions have ever been under investigation by police. RCMP said they generally can't confirm whether an investigation has taken place unless someone is charged.

The requirement to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before using a range of services was in effect from Sept. 13, 2021 to April 8, 2022.