A former administrator at a Peterborough medical centre has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of creating fake Covid vaccination certificates. Marzena Pawlowska, 36, exploited her position at the Nightingale Medical Centre to produce more than 100 false records between June and October 2021, charging £300 per certificate.
Pawlowska used her NHS account to issue fake certificates to unvaccinated individuals, putting public health at risk by enabling them to fraudulently claim they were vaccinated. Her actions, which prosecutors said created an increased risk to public safety, were discovered when records created outside of normal working hours raised suspicions. She was arrested in February 2022 after a raid on her home, where officers found evidence of her fraudulent activities, including blank vaccination cards, a notepad with NHS numbers, and over £10,000 in cash.
Investigations also revealed that Pawlowska had undeclared income and a personal bank account showing more than £44,000 in transactions, which she could not justify. She later admitted to creating the false records and was charged with fraud and possession of criminal property. At her sentencing, Recorder Richard Singer stated that Pawlowska’s actions had undermined the efforts to protect vulnerable people during the pandemic, and that she had knowingly put others at risk by allowing unvaccinated individuals to present themselves as vaccinated.
Following her conviction, Pawlowska’s employment at the medical centre was terminated. NHS representatives condemned her actions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust and high standards in healthcare settings. The National Crime Agency (NCA) also expressed the gravity of her crimes, highlighting the significant breach of trust and the risk posed to public health.