Fake vaccination certs sold

Fake international yellow fever certificates are being sold on the black market in Zambia and Zimbabwe, a development that is compromising World Health Organisation regulations.

Certificates are only issued when the yellow fever vaccination is given by a registered health professional.
Certificates are only issued when the yellow fever vaccination is given by a registered health professional.

Yellow Fever is one of the diseases subject to the World Health Organisation international regulations. It is a viral disease found in Zambia and some parts of Africa and South America. The disease is transmitted to humans by tsetse bites.

Investigations carried out by The Zimbabwean revealed that fake vaccination certificates were being sold at major international long distance bus termini such as Harare Road Port International and Lusaka.

The fake certificates are mainly sold to travellers going to Tanzania and South Africa for as much as $20. These countries require a certificate for entry.

“I bought the fake card in Zambia after one of the touts at Lusaka bus terminus convinced me I needed it. I bought the card for $20 and I only realised that the card was fake when I presented it to immigration officials at Tunduma border post in Tanzania. I was lucky because the officers did not endorse my passport,” said James Mbano of Harare.

Mbano said he was only allowed into Tanzania after paying $50 for the administration of the drug at the border post.

“The immigration officials referred me to a mobile clinic at the border post while I was issued with a genuine certificate. The genuine certificate has got security features unlike the fake document I bought in Zambia,” said Mbano.

In Zimbabwe, travellers are only issued with the certificate after being administered the vaccination. Clinics that administer the vaccination are required by WHO regulations to put tight security features on the certificate which includes an approved stamp, a registration number unique to the clinic and a special seal.

Post published in: Health
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  1. Clifford Summers

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