The new COVID-19 vaccines have come out, so every bit helps as the country tries to get back to normal. That said, it’s as bad a time as any to find out that a Wisconsin pharmacist allegedly sabotaged more than 500 doses of the Modern vaccine. This number goes a long way, as the process per person requires two doses.
In a press release posted on Facebook, the Grafton police department said they were called Wednesday to Grafton’s Advocate Aurora Health Hospital for a report that a former employee intentionally removed vaccines from refrigerated storage and left out at night. Health professionals said this made 570 doses “useless,” police said.
By the way, it was previously thought to be an accident, but Aurora Health said they found out the pharmacist was doing it on purpose. The employee in question allegedly admitted in writing that he set aside the vaccine on purpose, knowing that improperly stored vaccines would be damaged. Detectives suggested that the defendant knew that damaged vaccines would be useless and that people who received them would think they were vaccinated when in fact they were not.
Police said 57 of those doses were administered to patients, but, citing health officials, there would be no health issues due to the deterioration. The lost value was estimated at between $ 8,000 and $ 11,000.
Grafton’s police department did not identify the defendant, saying he should be formally informed of his charges. They only said he was a “former Aurora Health employee,” who was arrested for recklessly endangering first-degree safety, adulterating a prescription drug and criminal damage to property. They mentioned that he was detained in the Ozaukee County Jail. As noted above, a Steven Brandenburg is in the Ozaukee County Jail.
Records viewed by Law & Crime show he is being held on two charges: one of second-degree reckless risk and criminal damage to property. He was arrested Thursday. Online records name a “Steven R. Brandenburg” as a pharmacist in the village of Saukville, Ozaukee County. In any case, it is unclear whether the Bradenburg prison inmate has a criminal record.
[Screengrab via TMJ4 News]
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