Is it illegal to fake your vaccination card?
A serious felony involving federal forgery and identity fraud charges.
Faking a vaccination card is highly illegal because it involves the unauthorized use of an official government seal. Under federal law, the unauthorized use of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or CDC emblems is a crime. Creating or buying fraudulent cards can lead to prosecution for wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft at both the state and federal levels. These actions are treated with high severity to protect public health records and government authenticity.
RELEVANT LAWS
- 18 U.S.C. § 1017Unauthorized use of Department or Agency Seals
- 18 U.S.C. § 1343Wire Fraud (if purchased or sold online)
- NY Penal Law § 170.25Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument
- 42 U.S.C. § 1320d-6Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) criminal violations
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Up to 5 years in federal prison for unauthorized use of a government seal
- Fines ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 per violation
- Lengthy probation and a permanent federal criminal record
- Potential career disqualification and loss of professional licensing
JURISDICTION
While federal laws apply nationwide, states like New York and California have enacted specific state-level statutes to expedite prosecution of vaccine card forgery.
The FBI issued a formal warning that using the CDC seal on a fraudulent card is a crime specifically because the seal is protected under federal law, regardless of the user's intent.
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