A Texas doctor has been charged with stealing nine doses of the coveted COVID-19 vaccine while working at a county vaccination site, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked with the Harris County public health system, is accused of stealing a vial containing doses from a vaccination site in Humble on Dec. 29, the county district attorney said. of Harris, Kim Ogg.
A week later, Gokal bragged about the theft to a co-worker, who later complained to his supervisors, Ogg said.
Gokal was later fired from his job.
Ogg said Gokal stole the doses to give to his family and friends, leaving those most in need of a shot.
“He abused his position to place his friends and family in front of people who had gone through the legal process to be there,” Ogg said of Gokal. “What he did was illegal and he will be held responsible according to the law.”
Attorney Paul Doyle defended his client arguing that the vaccine would have expired anyway.
“Dr. Gokal is a dedicated official who makes sure that doses of COVID-19 vaccine that would otherwise have expired would fall into the arms of people who meet the criteria to receive it, ”Doyle said in a statement to KHOU11.
“Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal to drop the vaccines and is trying to underestimate this man’s reputation in the process to support this policy. We look forward to our court day to correct this mistake,” he continued. ‘lawyer.
Gokal faces up to a year in prison and a $ 4,000 fine.