GRAFTON, Wisconsin (AP) – Police and federal authorities are investigating after a Wisconsin health system said an employee admitted to deliberately breaking down 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine.
Aurora Medical Center first reported that the doses were broken on Saturday, saying they had been accidentally left unrefrigerated overnight by an Aurora Medical Center employee in Grafton. The health system said Wednesday that it now appears the vaccine doses have been deliberately spoiled.
Grafton police, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, said in a statement that the department, the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration are “actively” investigating the case. Police said they received notification of the alleged manipulation Wednesday night. Police said Thursday morning that no other information would be released immediately and declined to say whether any arrests have been made.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Aurora said the employee involved “acknowledged that he intentionally removed the vaccine from the refrigerator.”
Aurora said she fired the employee and referred the matter to the authorities. The statement said nothing about a possible reason for the action.
“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions lead to a delay of more than 500 people receiving the vaccine,” the statement said.
Aurora said she would provide more information Thursday.
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