They arrested a pharmacist accused of selling certificates of vaccination against Covid-19 | the Chronicle

US authorities in Chicago, Illinois arrested pharmacist for selling dozens of vaccination certificates through the eBay ecommerce site as shown AFP.

The United States Department of Justice has indicated that the inmate is called Tangtang Zhao, which sold 125 official vaccination certificates, issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As stated, the pharmacist sold them for 10 dollars for everyone, online.

The pharmacist had access to the cards that certify the vaccination of a person and which are given to all those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine because he works in one of the pharmacies authorized for vaccination.

Illegal sales of vaccination cards were carried out in March and April 2021

According to court documents, the illegal sale of these vaccination certificates took place in March and April 2021. In this sense, they also reported that there were eleven different buyers who obtained the cards illegally.

The inmate was a licensed pharmacist in Illinois and worked at Company One, a pharmacy that distributed and administered Covid-19 vaccines at its physical locations across the United States.

So, as required by the CDC, Company One provided a vaccination certificate to each recipient of the vaccine. However, Zhao, who worked at Company One as a pharmacist during this time, obtained the cards and then offered them to eleven customers.

Zhao has been charged with twelve counts of theft of government property and now faces up to ten years in prison on each charge.

Statements by the authorities

“We take seriously and will vigorously investigate any crime that contributes to mistrust of vaccines and the status of vaccines.”, the deputy attorney general said on Tuesday, Kenneth Poli, that’s a statement.

“Knowingly selling Covid vaccination cards to unvaccinated people puts millions of Americans at risk of serious injury or death”said the special agent in charge Emmerson Buie Jr., from the local FBI office in Chicago.

He also added: “Putting such a low price on the safety of our nation is not only an insult to those doing their part in the fight to stop Covid-19, but a federal crime with grave consequences.”.

Zhao is awaiting a conviction from a federal district court judge, who will take into account US sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.. Meanwhile, the Federal Office of Investigation (FBI) and United States Health and the Office of the Inspector General of Human Services (HHS-OIG) continue to investigate the case.

This certificate is important, since in recent weeks companies have asked their employees to present this certificate, so that they can continue in their work. In addition, many bars and restaurants also ask for it for the entrance of the guests.

The United States has already vaccinated 51.4% of its population, with 357 million doses administered and 169 million people vaccinated with both doses.