Based on a measure approved Thursday by the Democratic-led assembly, fraudulent vaccination cards could soon be a felony in the state of New York.
The measure has not yet passed in the senate, but it works to tighten forgery laws and penalties in New York State. The bill would make it so forging immunization records or possessing proof of an immunization with the intent to defraud a felony.
The bill was approved as vaccination cards became ways to allow people to return to a normal life and use them to attend sporting events or concerts.
In recent weeks, state officials have been looking to add incentives to vaccination in the ways of free lottery tickets or entering for free college tuition money in order to encourage people to get the vaccine.
“New Yorkers deserve to know that when they attend an event or go to a ballgame where proof of vaccination is required that those around them are not putting people at risk by using forged documents,” Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz said. “This is a public health issue, and after the devastating loss of life that we experienced over the last year, it is critical that we take all reasonable steps to ensure that New Yorkers can safely begin to resume their lives.”
The bill includes vaccination cards but is not limited to those records.
“It is beyond comprehension that after the horror and death that the pandemic caused across the world – and especially here in New York – that people are willing to endanger their health and those around them by using forged vaccination documents,” Speaker Carl Heastie said. “This legislation would ensure that those that are endangering the public health with forged documents can be held responsible for their actions.”
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