GRAFTON – Grafton police arrested pharmacist Aurora Health Care, who intentionally spoiled more than 500 doses of the modern coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, officials said.
He was arrested on charges of recklessly jeopardizing security, tampering with a prescription drug and criminal property damage. He is currently being held in Ozaukee County Prison. The pharmacist’s identity is being withheld at this time.
The value of spoiled vaccines is estimated at about $ 8,000 to $ 11,000, police said.
Grafton police said the pharmacist “knew that spoiled vaccines would be useless and that the people who received the vaccines would think they were vaccinated against the virus when they were not.”
Last week, an Advocate Aurora Health employee intentionally removed 57 vials of Modern vaccine from refrigeration. He spoiled more than 500 doses of the vaccine.
On Thursday, the president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group said 57 people received the vaccine after it was left out for longer than appropriate. The president said there is no harm in receiving the spoiled vaccine. He added that it was ineffective or ineffective. He said Moderna also confirmed that.
There is no known reason why the pharmacist did this.
Authorities said no other vaccines had been tampered with.
“Even the waste of a few doses seems like a tragedy. Many people could have used this,” said Dr. Jeff Pothof, director of quality at UW Health.
Dr. Pothof, who is not associated with Advocate Aurora Health, said that they deal with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and are supplied under robust safety protocols, including constant surveillance.
“It doesn’t mean that lawyer Aurora doesn’t have these processes in place. I think that at some point, if you have someone you thought was a trusted employee who is acting with a single intention, it can be very difficult to prevent that person from doing something that really spoils everything for everyone, “said Dr. Pothof.
The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin released the following statement in response to the news:
The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin expresses deep disappointment at hearing the news of an individual who deliberately wasted doses of the Modern vaccine. This individual’s actions should not reflect the thousands of health professionals who are committed to vaccinating our colleagues and patients safely and quickly.
At PSW, we believe that, together with our health and public health colleagues, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play a vital role in expanding access to immunization services. The vaccines recommended by the CDC are safe and effective and vaccination is our way out of the pandemic.
As this unique year draws to a close, we are focused on the inspiration we see in the daily heroism of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other health professionals who have treated patients during this pandemic.
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