(CNN) A North Carolina police chief has been placed on unpaid leave and probation for telling officers about a "clinic" that would issue them a Covid-19 vaccination card without actually receiving the shot, local officials said. The vaccine fraud accusations come as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly both in the US and worldwide. Full vaccination as well as boosters provide the best protection against the highly contagious variant that has been alarming health officials amid the holiday season. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary of the state's Department of Health and Human Services, said earlier this week that North Carolina could see as many as 10,000 Covid-19 cases a day at the peak in January. Smith told the Stanly News & Press that a friend called and told him about a mobile vaccination clinic.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 23, 2021 17:31 UTC