GRAFTON, Wisconsin (AP) – Police and federal authorities are investigating a health system in Wisconsin that an employee admits to deliberately spoiling 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine.
The Aurora Medical Center first reported that the doses were spoiled Saturday, saying they were accidentally left unattended overnight by an employee at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton. The health system said on Wednesday that the doses of vaccine had apparently been deliberately spoiled.
Police in Grafton, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, said in a statement that the department, the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration were “actively” investigating the matter. Police said they were notified Wednesday night of the alleged tampering. Police said Thursday morning that no other information would be released immediately, and declined to say whether any arrests had been made.
Aurora said in a statement late Wednesday that the employee in question “admitted that they deliberately took the vaccine out of the refrigerator.”
Aurora said he fired the employee and referred the matter to authorities. The statement says nothing about a possible motive for the action.
“We still believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that the actions of this individual will lead to a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccination,” the statement said.
Aurora said it would provide more information Thursday.
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