Italian Doctor Charged with Fraud for Administering Saline Instead of Pfizer Vaccine

Over 30 Residents Affected, Caught Refusing to Issue Confirmation Certificates

People are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at a vaccination center near Milan in northern Italy. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An Italian doctor is under investigation by local police amid allegations that he injected saline solution instead of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On the 23rd (local time), according to the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano and others, a doctor in a village near Ancona in the Marche region of eastern Italy was caught injecting saline solution to residents who came for vaccination.

It is reported that at least 30 residents received saline injections instead of the Pfizer vaccine at the private clinic operated by this doctor.

The allegations came to light after reports from three residents who had been injected.

The residents became suspicious and reported to the police after the doctor refused to issue vaccination certificates and evasively answered questions about the specific type of vaccine administered.

The police have booked the doctor on charges including fraud and public endangerment and are investigating the motive behind the crime.

The doctor's clinic is currently closed.

The police are also investigating how the unused vaccines were handled.

Meanwhile, in Italy, not only medium and large hospitals but also private clinic doctors receive COVID-19 vaccines and administer them to residents.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.