A Texas doctor was accused of stealing nine doses of the coveted COVID-19 vaccine while working at a county vaccination site, prosecutors announced on Thursday.
Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked with the Harris County public health system, is accused of stealing a bottle containing doses from a vaccination site in Humble on December 29, said Harris district attorney Kim Ogg, in a statement.
A week later, Gokal boasted of the theft to a co-worker, who then complained to his supervisors, said Ogg.
Later, Gokal was fired from his job.
Ogg said that Gokal stole the doses to give to his family and friends, leaving those most in need of an injection without one.
“He abused his position to put his friends and family in front of people who had gone through the legal process to be there,” said Ogg of Gokal. “What he did was illegal and he will be held accountable to the law.”
Lawyer Paul Doyle defended his client by arguing that the vaccine would have expired anyway.
“Dr. Gokal is a dedicated public servant who has ensured that doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which would otherwise expire, go into the arms of people who meet the criteria to receive it, ”said Doyle in a statement to KHOU11.
“Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal to waste vaccines and is trying to undermine this man’s reputation in the process of supporting this policy. We look forward to our day in court to fix this mistake, ”continued the lawyer.
Gokal faces up to a year in prison and a $ 4,000 fine.