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Vaccine related fraud and security risks: interim report
The dynamic nature of an international pandemic such as COVID-19 carries inherent security risks for governments, businesses and individuals. These security risks are not only related to direct health and economic impacts, but also include the impacts that can arise from increased vulnerabilities to crimes such as fraud during such times.
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there were significant concerns from governments and health authorities regarding the security and integrity of COVID-19 vaccinations, even before such vaccines had been approved for use. Chief among these concerns was whether organised crime groups would create a market for illicit or fake vaccines, or undertake fraud using peoples' uncertainty or desire for vaccines as the 'bait'. There were additional concerns as to whether anti-vaccination groups may seek to impact the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccination program.
To investigate these issues, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement referred this inquiry on 17 March 2021 to inquire into and report on COVID-19 vaccine related fraud and security risks. This inquiry is intended to focus on the fraud and security risks that specifically arise or relate to COVID-19 vaccinations only, given the committee recently finalised its inquiry into broader crime trends during the pandemic.
The committee's finding to date from this inquiry is that concerns regarding fraud and security risks relating to the vaccination rollout have not yet manifested to the degree some anticipated.
Due to such concerns regarding potential future fraudulent behaviour relating to the COVID-19 vaccination status of individuals, which cannot be properly predicted at this point, the committee has resolved to present its current findings in this interim report, while keeping a watching brief over the issue. A final report is intended to be published by February 2021, when the committee has reviewed the fraud and security risks that may arise if a system for proving vaccination status is rolled out by the Australian government.
