Doctor arrested in Bavaria: 1,290 fake vaccination certificates!

Doctor arrested in Bavaria: 1,290 fake vaccination certificates!

A medical scandal is currently shaking the Lower Bavaria region. A doctor is in custody for large-scale fraud related to measles vaccinations. The public prosecutor's office in Nuremberg suspects that the doctor issued false vaccination certificates in 1,290 cases. These are minors who have actually never been vaccinated. The doctor had billed the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria (KVB) for these fictitious vaccinations and thereby illegally pocketed a considerable sum of almost 20,000 euros Medical Journal reported.

The investigation began after several district offices received certificates of inability to vaccinate children who had previously been rejected. Instead, in some cases, proof of vaccinations issued by the suspect were presented, even to children located far from his practice. The public prosecutor's office has now issued 88 search warrants, in which not only the doctor's practice was examined, but also other people who had presented fake vaccination certificates for themselves or their children.

Penalties for forging vaccination certificates

But what exactly happens to all these fake vaccination certificates? In Germany, the issue of fake vaccination certificates has become extremely explosive in recent years. In particular, the obligation to be vaccinated against measles, which applies to all children and young people in facilities such as daycare centers and schools, has led to an increase in counterfeits. Anyone who uses or issues fake vaccination certificates is committing a criminal offense and can expect severe penalties. Loud Law firm A forgery can lead to charges of forgery of documents (§ 267 StGB) or unauthorized issuing of health certificates (§ 277 StGB).

Especially since the change in the law on November 24, 2021, there has been clarity: From this date, both forging and using fake vaccination certificates are punishable. The Federal Court of Justice recently found that such counterfeits were illegal even before the law was changed. In serious cases, there is a risk of high prison sentences of up to ten years if it is a case of commercial counterfeiting.

The social consequences

The demand for strict measures against the falsification of vaccination certificates is unmistakable. Especially at the current time, when not only the measles vaccination but also other vaccinations have come into focus, such scandals pose a threat to public health. The Measles Protection Act not only affects children, but also employees in community facilities and is therefore of enormous relevance for society as a whole.

The scope of this scam should not be underestimated. While those responsible are held accountable, it remains to be hoped that such incidents can be brought under control in the future through even more intensive controls and education in order to continue to protect the health of our children.