WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — A pharmacist in Fayette County has had his license suspended after allegations were made he was selling vaccine cards to unvaccinated people.
Dr. Ryan Ford, Rph, had his state license suspended on Thursday by Ohio’s Board of Pharmacy.
“On December 9, 2021, based on allegations that Ryan Ford was selling COVID-19 vaccination record cards for $60 each, without administering the vaccine, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy issued a [suspension],” the Board said. Ford has a right to a hearing to present evidence but no such hearing has been scheduled. Until the hearing, his license is inactive.
The evidence the board said they reviewed to make their determination was not released.
Ford was last employed at Kroger on Clinton Avenue in Washington Court House. Kroger was not available to comment on the allegations or the status of Ford’s employment.
It’s unknown if Ford will face criminal charges for the claims. The FBI has charged numerous people for selling fake vaccine cards, but this is the first in Ohio that a medical provider is accused of selling “authentic” cards.
This spring, the FBI warned about false vaccination cards for sale that were circulating online. In July, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of a naturopathic doctor in Northern California. The agency said the doctor gave patients false vaccine cards and homeopathic remedies claiming they would help the body fight off COVID-19.
The DOJ said that misrepresenting the official seal of a U.S. agency, like the CDC logo on vaccine cards, could be a violation of federal law. Violators could face up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. However, the cards Ford is accused of selling were real cards, where the vaccine had not been actually administered.
Efforts to reach Ford were not successful.