People not vaccinated against Covid-19 are using an unrecognised medical study to reportedly evade virus restrictions and provide information on their status that amounts to a potential criminal offence.
“Associates” or members of the VaxControlGroup, a self-described, long-term study of unvaccinated people, are issued with a card stating they “must not be vaccinated” and are research participants.
The National has found that the cards have been used to incorrectly claim on passenger locator forms that the holder is taking part in a medical trial that has been clinically approved and therefore is exempt from self-isolation rules on entry into the UK.
Clinical trials in the UK need to be approved by the Health Research Authority. The HRA has not approved the VCG as a clinical trial, nor has the group applied for approval.
On its Telegram channels, the VCG freely admits its card is not recognised.
“The cards grant no legal exemptions at this time, so we can’t offer any guarantees that it will help with travel restrictions,” wrote one administrator.
Yet, one of the VCG’s Telegram chats is dedicated to “success stories” that reportedly celebrate its use at venues demanding proof of vaccination.
An administrator repeatedly writes that they are “particularly interested” in “travel, quarantine and border” success stories.
One user, who recently returned to the UK's London Gatwick Airport and stated she was exempt from isolation “due to clinical trials”, wrote: “When passing through customs, the border force person highlighted this when checking my passport. I presented the image of my VCG card, which she viewed quickly.
“I suggested she scan it if she wanted more information … it was a very pleasant transaction and she just waved me through.”
Another writes of visiting a concert hall in London's Hammersmith: “During the check in, I pulled out my card, they looked at it and just let me in. I feel really confident now! Result!”
A Leeds United football fan claimed he had his season tickets taken away for refusing to send his vaccine status. Emailed by the club to explain how he could have it returned, he said he responded: “After refusing this and telling them they were discriminating against me, I sent them a pic of my VCG card, explaining I was part of a worldwide group and that if they scanned the QR code they would see my participation.
“My next email simply said, ‘Hi, I will unlock your season ticket today'."
The man had previously posted on Facebook about the “grown men and women being controlled and that I thought they were wimps and sheep”.
The “study” comes amid a surge in Covid-19 cases across the UK amid the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant, putting UK hospitals under considerable strain and causing staff shortages.
The unvaccinated at much greater risk of dying and being admitted to intensive care if they contract Covid-19.
“Vaccinations remain one of our best defences against Covid-19 by preventing infection and saving lives,” a UK government representative told The National.
“Members of the public should ensure they’re accessing legitimate sources of information on vaccinations, such as information provided by the NHS. It is an offence to make, supply or offer false evidence of Covid-19 status which is false or misleading.
“The NHS Covid Pass is a safe, secure and free way for individuals to share their Covid-19 vaccination record, and all UK residents, including participants of approved clinical trials, are able to prove their vaccination status through national certification.”
An estimated 4.5 million people aged 18 and over in the UK have not had a first dose of the vaccine. Typical reasons include concerns over effectiveness, side effects, distrust of the authorities and misinformation.
This week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “to the anti-vax campaigners, the people who are putting this mumbo jumbo on social media: they are completely wrong".
England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty said “the great majority” of those who were in intensive care and unvaccinated were “not anti-vaxxers in the ordinary sense with some really weird ideas” but had been taken advantage of by those seeking to misinform them online.
The VCG describes itself as an “independent, long-term study that is seeking to provide a baseline of data from unvaccinated individuals for comparative analysis with the vaccinated population, to evaluate the success of the Covid-19 mass vaccination programme and assist future research projects”.
In its mission statement, the VCG says it is a “team of passionate individuals, working together as a co-operative, to staunchly defend our inalienable rights to freedom of choice and bodily integrity".
After registration, participants are asked to report any medical events, “particularly when related to Covid 19 symptoms and/or testing”.
But by becoming an “Associate” — paying £24 a year in the process — new members are entitled to the card that has been used to evade restrictions.
The most recent count on Telegram states there are 194,000 participants in the programme, 35,000 of which are Associates.
“As a co-operative, our project is funded by our valued worldwide associates, who are encouraged to guide us in steering this project forward and expanding ways we can legally protect our freedoms and prevent medical discrimination,” says the group’s mission statement
“We are doing this with love to protect the future of our families, children, friends, neighbours and all of humanity. If we don't do it, then who will?”
Despite describing itself as a study, the majority of the conversation on the VCG's question-and-answer Telegram channel is related to the cards — how to get them, how much they cost and if they will can be used for travel. When asked about the latter, administrators will often remind users that the card “grants no legal exemptions” before referring them to the success story group.
One user asks to be pointed to the “’script’ we should be using” to explain the card when asked.
Statements and articles shared on the Telegram group include those titled “How to Effectively Wake Up Your Friends and Family” — referring to convincing loved ones about the dangers of the Covid-19 vaccine — while another asks for testimonies from the more than “390,000 people living in the UK who have been injured” by the vaccine.
The VCG say they are working hard to have the study officially recognised, with an announcement expected later this month — but provided no more information.
The National has contacted the VCG, Leeds United, Gatwick Airport and the Hammersmith Apollo, but had not received a response to the information provided at the time of publication.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
