After a British Columbia millionaire and his wife were charged with fraudulently obtaining doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the Yukon government is moving to vet people attending the clinics more carefully.

At the weekly COVID-19 briefing Wednesday, Community Services Minister John Streicker said people showing up for the vaccine will have to bring proof of residency with them – particularly those who don’t have a Yukon health card.

“This has sent a real jitter through the system,” he said. “But we don’t want to make it difficult for Yukoners to get vaccinated either.

“So we also made changes to our vaccine eligibility at our clinics. If you live in the Yukon and don't have a health card, a temporary worker, student or recently relocated, you’re eligible to be vaccinated in the Yukon but will have to bring valid ID plus one of the following.

“A valid Yukon student card, proof of employment in the Yukon, or reasonable proof of Yukon residency; for example, a utility bill.”

In an accompanying news release, the government stated, “Proof of residency will be required to receive a vaccination, such as government-issued identification, a Yukon health care card, or mail displaying your name and address.

“After receiving a vaccine, Yukoners must continue following health measures, such as wearing a mask.”

As has been well-documented, Rodney and Ekaterina Baker claimed to be working at the nearby 1202 Motel in Beaver Creek – but in reality had only flown in for the day on Jan. 21.

One of the couple presented an Ontario health card, while another had a B.C. health card.

The ruse fell apart when the couple slipped up and, looking to leave Beaver Creek, asked for a ride to the airport, which was two kilometres away – a distance that could be easily walked.

That’s how the couple finally returned to their chartered plane, but it also set tongues wagging in the small community, and it wasn’t long before what seems like a carefully-planned escapade fell apart.

The Bakers were eventually found at the Whitehorse airport. They were charged with two counts each under the Civil Emergency Measures Act provisions.

“If you’re a Canadian but do not live in the Yukon, you’re not eligible to be vaccinated in the Yukon,” Streicker emphasized. “You must be be vaccinated in your home jurisdiction.”

The caper threw a pall on what had otherwise been a relatively decent couple of weeks for the pandemic in the Yukon.

It’s been more than two weeks since any new cases have been found, and more than a week since the last active case has been cleared. The current case count remains at 70.

Streicker and the territory’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Brendan Hanley, were quick to praise how the rollout of the vaccine is working – despite controversy in Whitehorse, where the Yukon Convention Centre clinic has not been running anywhere near capacity.

“Yes, there have been concerns raised about the booking system,” Hanley said at Wednesday’s briefing.

“There have been glitches. 2021 has brought new challenges, but we have to be patient and wait for our turn to get a vaccine.”

The website for the government’s vaunted booking system is consistently showing it’s running at 50 per cent capacity or less, but Hanley said that was a bit deceiving.

He was particularly critical of people who have been sending screen shots to the government and media of the booking site on a daily basis.

“We all know there have been glitches in booking,” Hanley said.

“While it has been challenging at times to recognize and correct those glitches, the use of the booking system has helped tremendously with clinic flow and our ability to effectively plan for the right amount of vaccines in the right amount of immunized or is on site to ensure a smooth thoroughfare of individuals receiving their vaccinations.

“Despite what you may have read in the news, it is important and very helpful when individuals book appointments in advance,” Hanley added.

“While the clinic does have limited capacity for walk-ins, individuals are preferred to make an appointment.”

Hanley seemed to be in a somewhat self-congratulatory mood as he talked about the clinics.

“I am very pleased with the progress of the campaign so far, and if people step up, we will see the numbers mount rapidly.

“I know it can be frustrating for people to feel we could be running more people through, but we are managing these initial limits very carefully for reasons I have previously explained.

“Our focus is on older Yukoners, those in long-term care, and and covering vulnerable populations living in group settings and getting out and around to all our communities.

“That means a lot of vaccinators are out and about all around Yukon while the detailed training of more vaccinated heirs is still going on.”

That focus on the communities, Hanley said, “ultimately mean less hands on deck of the Whitehorse clinic until we ramp up for the Whitehorse clinics where they will then be prepared to crank through as many people as our supplies allow.”

The clinic hasn’t been open on weekends due to a lack of staff and the need to provide them with time off, Hanley said.

It will run six days a week when it opens to the general public.