A police investigation in Indonesia is underway into a so-called “vaccine jockey”, who says he was jabbed 17 times to get cash from anti vaxxers for Covid passes.
Abdul Rahim of Pinrang (South Sulawesi) appeared in a promotional video, claiming that his role was as a jockey for anyone who needed a vaccine certificate.
He said he was paid up to £40, roughly a day’s wages, to get shots of the Chinese-made Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, receiving three shots in a single day.
Rahim, who was employed by 15 people and received the second dose to treat two vaccine-disablers, was given another dose.
Abdul Rahim (pictured), Pinrang in South Sulawesi Province, shared a Facebook video boasting that he is a “jockey” for people who want a vaccine certificate.
Although Indonesians must show their identification when getting vaccinated, it is clear that clinics across the country are committing fraud.
The suspects of Rahim’s payment have been arrested by police.
Rahim is also being investigated under the Infectious Diseases Law of Indonesia, which imposes a 1-year sentence on anyone who “hinders pandemic control.”
This fraud was discovered as the nation recorded Tuesday’s first Omicron variant community case.
Indonesia has recorded 265 new cases Tuesday. There have been an average of 222 infections in the seven-day period.
Only five deaths were recorded in the 274 million-strong country.
It is not the first instance of vaccine jockeys in Indonesia.
After being offered jabs from anti-vaxxers, a New Zealander received 10 vaccines in one day.
Unidentified man pretended that he was a completely different person every time he went to the doctor.
On Tuesday, an Indonesian worker administered a Covid jab in Jakarta to a school pupil.
According to police, anti-vaxxers may have paid the man for his services so that they would enjoy all the rights of the vaccinees without needing the jab.
New Zealanders need to show proof of a vaccination pass before they can visit certain businesses or attend events.
Helen Petousis Harris, University of Auckland associate professor of vaccinology, described the experience as “really stupid.”
She said that they feel more awful than people who have taken regular dosages of the drug.
While limited information exists about the impact of Covid vaccines on the human body, Ms Petousis Harris guessed that the man would experience some discomfort the next day.