Authorities in Wisconsin on Thursday arrested a pharmacist suspected of deliberately destroying hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by taking it out of the refrigerator for two nights.
According to the Grafton Police Department, the former attorney Aurora Health Pharmacist was arrested on charges of reckless threat, the counterfeit prescription drug and criminal case damage, reports Associated Press.
Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Healthcare Medical Group, said in a press release from Zoom on Thursday that a pharmacist now fired had removed 57 vials of Moderna vaccine from the cold room – enough for about 570 doses – and denatured it, or less effective and even ineffective.
Healthcare workers used the denatured vaccine doses to vaccinate 57 people. Bahr said the doses were less effective and possibly ineffective.
“In the ensuing hours, clinical leaders met,” Bahr said. “And based on the information available, it was determined that the vaccine could still be administered on the morning of December 26, given the 12 – hour viability period after it was removed from the refrigerator.”
According to the AP, the authorities issued a statement that the suspect was in jail but did not disclose personal information because he has not yet been formally charged.
“The pharmacist responsible for removing the vials maintained that it was an unintentional mistake that occurred while the person had access to other items from the same refrigerator,” Bahr said, adding that the suspect later admitted that the removal was intentional.
Asked about the pharmacist’s motive for taking the doses out of the refrigerator, Bahr said Aurora could not deliver a verdict and postponed questions to local authorities.
The Hill reaches out to Grafton police, but does not receive an immediate response.
“We still believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that the actions of this individual will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine, ‘the health care system said in a statement.