Police in Wisconsin have arrested a pharmacist who is accused of intentionally removing doses of the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine from a refrigerator at a hospital.
CNN reports that police said in a press release on Thursday that the man left the vaccine out knowing it would not be usable. The pharmacist was identified by The Daily Mail as Steven. According to the reports, he said in a written statement to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton that he deliberately took the vials out, knowing the doses would be ineffective.
Hospital president Dr. Jeff Bahr said the facility determined the vaccine could still be given on the morning of December 26, since Moderna says it can stay out of refrigeration for up to 12 hours. However, based on the pharmacist’s statement, the vials were also left out for some time on December 24 and 25. A pharmacy technician found the vials, and 57 people received doses on December 26. Those doses are now believed to be less effective or ineffective. The hospital system has not said how long the vials were out.
In total, more than 500 doses were lost. Hospital officials say they are working with Moderna and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how to handle those who received the 57 doses.
The pharmacist is being held at the Ozaukee County Jail and could be charged with felony first degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property. Grafton police said the FBI, the FDA, and the Grafton Police Department are actively investigating and that no other information is being released at this time. A response from the pharmacist was not available at the time of this report.
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