Authorities issue warning about vaccine certificate flaw in Qld’s Covid-19 check in app

There’s been a serious warning issued after a flaw was discovered in a Covid-19 check-in app with fears unvaccinated people can exploit it.

Queensland authorities have issued a stern warning to the unvaccinated who attempt to cheat the system when the state’s vaccine mandate comes into play.

The warning comes after a loophole was exposed in the state’s Covid check-in app that allows the unvaccinated to fraudulently claim they have received the jabs.

Because of the design of the app, users are able to upload someone else’s vaccine certificate to their own check-in app.

In principle, this would mean an unvaccinated person could upload a friend or family member’s vaccination certificate in order to enter venues that will be restricted come December 17.

To do so, the vaccinated person would need to log in to their Medicare or MyGov account on the unvaccinated person’s phone.

A potential loophole has been exposed in the Check In Qld Covid-19 app. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The feature, which authorities fear will be taken advantage of in the lead up to the vaccine mandate, enables someone to add dependants and family members to your app by linking their MyGov account.

Queensland’s Health Minister said authorities were preparing for unvaccinated people to try and cheat the system in order to attend bars, restaurants, sporting games and hospitals which will become restricted next month.

“It’s human nature and some people just don’t want to comply, and we’ve seen that throughout the pandemic,” Yvette D’Ath said.

Queensland authorities say those attempting to cheat the system could be dealt with under the criminal code. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

A Department of Health spokesperson said anyone attempting to exploit the loophole would be committing a criminal offence.

“Deliberately and fraudulently sharing or using a certificate that is not your own – be it paper, electric or otherwise – would be considered a criminal offence,” the statement said.

Restrictions will change in the Sunshine State on December 17, regardless of whether the 80 per cent double dose milestone is reached by then.

The Queensland government has come under fire, including from the Prime Minister, for being the latest state to introduce mandates.

Queensland will reopen its border to fully vaccinated people in NSW, Victoria and the ACT from the same date.