A 45-year-old woman from the Gold Coast has been arrested and charged with pretending to be a doctor, creating fake medical exemption certificates for COVID-19.

She told the police she had issued around 600 false COVID-19 certificates, which states a person is exempt from attending COVID-19 testing, wearing a mask and receiving a vaccine.

A search warrant was issued on Wednesday morning by police to find an address in Labrador. The woman from Darling Heights in the Toowoomba region was then arrested.

Under the Health Practitioner National Law, she was charged with five counts of giving herself a title that indicates a health practitioner.

With more Australians scheduling appointments, working ahead towards the 80 percent of over-16s to be fully vaccinated, there are some people in particular situations that cannot be vaccinated and fall under the strict criteria to receive a medical exemption permanently or temporarily.

Permanent medical exemption is only required for a previous anaphylaxis to any component of a COVID-19 vaccine or anaphylaxis following a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

A temporary medical exemption is for people that may need to be temporarily deferred, including major medical issues such as major surgery or hospital admission. It is available to people who have a history of heart inflammation or specific rare bleeding and clotting conditions.

The 45-year-old is the first person in Queensland to be charged with this offence and is scheduled to be at the South Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 28.

Police are still investigating the matter.

Photo: COVID Vaccine Clinic Parking By Joshua Hoehne available HERE and used under a Creative Commons Attribution. This image has not been modified.