WA nurse accused of faking Covid vaccination, arrested and charged

A registered nurse in Western Australia has been arrested and charged after allegedly faking giving someone the coronavirus vaccine.

A registered nurse in Western Australia has been arrested and charged after allegedly faking giving someone a coronavirus vaccine.

The 51-year-old nurse, who was employed to administer Covid vaccines at a private medical centre in St James, reportedly obtained approval from her employer for people she knew to receive their vaccine at the medical centre, and for her to administer the shots herself.

According to WA Police, a person known to the nurse attended the medical centre on Sunday and arranged for their teenage child to receive the vaccine.

A doctor observed the process. Police allege the nurse inserted the needle into the teenager’s arm, but failed to administer the vaccine.

“It will be alleged the syringe, with vaccine liquid still inside, was disposed of and a false entry was made on the medical records system indicating the teenager had received the dose of the vaccine,” police said in a statement.

“Further, it will be alleged the nurse recorded that another employee of the medical centre had administered the dose, and not her.”

There has been a strong vaccination push in WA, with fly in fly out workers able to get the jab at airports. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sharon Smith

A police investigation commenced after the medical centre reported the incident.

The 51-year-old was arrested at her home yesterday and has been charged with one count of Gains Benefit by Fraud. She was refused bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court later on Monday.

The police investigation is ongoing.

It comes as WA struggles to increase its vaccination rate, and shortly after Premier Mark McGowan outlined his hard line reopening plan, with the state’s border restrictions to remain until 90 per cent of its residents over the age of 12 are double dosed.

The state has lagged behind much of the country with its vaccination percentage

Mr McGoawan’s stance was blasted by the federal Treasurer on Monday morning.

“It‘s a high bar the Western Australian government has set,” Josh Frydenberg told Today.

“I don‘t understand why Western Australia should be different to any other state and ease their border restrictions at that 80 per cent vaccination rate.”