WA Police have charged a nurse with fraudulently recording that a teenager had been given a COVID-19 vaccine when the jab was allegedly never administered.
Police said the 51-year-old registered nurse was employed to give COVID-19 vaccines at a private medical centre in the southern Perth suburb of St James.
They said a person known to the nurse attended the clinic yesterday with their teenage child for a COVID-19 vaccine.
“It will be alleged the nurse inserted the needle into the teenager’s arm, but failed to administer the vaccine,” police said in a statement.
“It will be further alleged the syringe, with vaccine liquid still inside, was disposed of.
“A false entry was made on the medical records system indicating the teenager had received the dose of the vaccine.”
Police also allege she recorded that another employee of the medical centre had given the dose, and not her.
“As per standard practice a second medical practitioner, on this occasion a doctor, observed the process,” police said.
Nurse to appear in court
Police said the medical centre reported the incident to police, sparking an investigation.
The woman from Byford 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 today.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.