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GRAFTON, Wis. (AP) – Police and federal officials are investigating after a Wisconsin health care worker admitted to deliberately spoiling 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Aurora Medical Center reported for the first time that the doses were spoiled on Saturday, saying they were accidentally left uncooled overnight by an Aurora Medical Center employee in Grafton. The health system said Wednesday that doses of the vaccine now appear to have been deliberately spoiled.
Police in Grafton, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Milwaukee, said in a statement that the department, the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating the case “actively”. Police said they were notified of the alleged violation on Wednesday night. The police said Thursday morning that no further information would be released immediately, and did not say whether any arrests were made.
In a statement on Wednesday, Aurora said the official involved “acknowledged that he intentionally removed the vaccine from the refrigerator”.
Aurora said she fired the employee and referred the case 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 will result in the delay of more than 500 people in receiving the vaccine, ”said the statement.
Aurora said she will provide more information on Thursday.