An Italian anti-vaxxer tried to avoid the covid vaccine, whilst still qualifying for the Green Pass, by wearing a fake arm. He now faces charges of fraud after wearing a silicone arm after turning up for the jab in Biella.
It’s possible a man who tried to avoid receiving the vaccine jab, whilst still obtaining the health certificate paid hundreds for the silicone arm.
After completing the formalities, including signing a consent form, the 50-year-old-man prepared for the vaccination. The odd occurrence took place at a vaccine hub in Biella, a town close to Turin.
Skin not the same colour
The health worker did not notice anything strange immediately. However, after touching the arm and taking a closer look, the medic asked the man to remove his shirt. The unnamed man then tried to persuade the health worker to turn a blind eye.
“I felt offended as a professional,” Filippa Bua told La Repubblica. “The colour of the arm made me suspicious and so I asked the man to uncover the rest of his left arm. It was well made but it wasn’t the same colour.” The man said to her: “Would you have imagined that I’d have such a physique?”
She told La Stampa she could not see the man’s veins: “At first I thought I made a mistake, that it was a patient with an artificial arm.”
Silicone suits for sale on Amazon
“The promptness and skill of the health worker ruined the plans of this person, who will now have to respond to the judiciary,” Alberto Cirio, the president of Piedmont, said in a joint statement with Luigi Icardi, the regional health councillor.
La Repubblica suggested that the incident might not have been a one-off. The newspaper cited a recent message on social media.
The Twitter post featured a silicone male chest half-body suit, complete with fake arms and neck, that was on sale on Amazon for €488. Alongside the image was the message: “If I go with this, will they notice? Maybe beneath the silicone I’ll even put on some extra clothes to avoid the needle reaching my real arm.”
Significant rise in first-time jab appointments
Italy reported a significant rise in the number of bookings for first-time jabs since announcing plans for the “super green pass”. The new restrictions take effect nationally from 6 December.
It requires people to prove they are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 to access cinemas, theatres, gyms, nightclubs, ski-lifts and stadiums, as well as to be served indoors at bars and restaurants. Previously, a negative test would be sufficient.
