A pharmacist in Wisconsin his license was suspended on Wednesday after he was accused of intentionally spoiling coronavirus vaccines.
The Wisconsin Pharmacy Council suspended Steven Brandenburg’s license due to allegations that he spoiled 500 doses of the vaccine because he thought it was unsafe and would change the person’s DNA, Associated Press reported. Brandenburg cannot practice while his license has been suspended.
The former lawyer Aurora Health Pharmacist when he was arrested, claimed that it was an accidental mistake and that he did not intend to destroy the vaccination vials. Police said he later admitted to remove the vials intentionally.
Brandenburg remove the 57 vials from the fridge on 24 and 25 December. The bottles were only discovered on 26 December. ‘[S]Ome of the vaccine was administered to team members on December 26 within the approved 12-hour window after the cooling, but the rest had to be discarded, the hospital said in a statement on December 28.
Brandenburg has not yet been prosecuted, but a status conference for the case will take place on Tuesday. Brandenburg has agreed to suspend its license “in order to focus on the charges that may be brought against him.
The pharmacist allegedly tampered with the vaccine because he believes in conspiracy theories that say the coronavirus vaccine was designed to alter the person’s DNA. The doses he destroyed cost between $ 8,000 and $ 11,000, authorities say.
Public health officials have been battling misinformation and other similar false allegations about the vaccine for months, though officials have also tried to reduce skepticism among those who are eligible for vaccination but do not prefer it, citing their concerns about the vaccine. rapid development thereof.
Millions of doses have been administered in the United States since last month, but implementation has lagged behind, and federal officials have hoped to increase the rate of vaccinations in the coming weeks.