US police and federal authorities are investigating after a Wisconsin health center said an employee admitted to deliberately spoiling 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Aurora Medical Center in Grafton reported for the first time that the doses had gone bad on Saturday, saying a staff member left them without refrigeration overnight. On Wednesday, however, the newspaper said the doses appeared to have been deliberately damaged.
Police in Grafton, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Milwaukee, said the department, the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration are investigating the case.
Police said they were notified of the alleged violation on Wednesday night, but that no further information would be released immediately. They refused to say whether any arrests were made.
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In a note on Wednesday night, Aurora said the official involved “acknowledged that he intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.” Aurora said she fired the person in question 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.