Wisconsin authorities on Thursday arrested a pharmacist suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by taking them out of the refrigerator for two nights.
According to Grafton police, the former pharmacist of attorney Aurora Health was arrested on suspicion of reckless threats, falsification of a prescription drug and criminal property damage, the Associated Press reported.
Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Healthcare Medical Group said on Thursday during a Zoom press call that a now-fired pharmacist has taken 57 vials of Moderna vaccine from cold storage – enough for about 570 doses – and denatured them, or made them less effective. and even ineffective.
Health workers used the denatured vaccine doses to inoculate 57 people. Bahr said the doses were less effective and may not be effective.
“In the hours that followed, the clinical leaders conferred with each other,” said Bahr. “And based on the available information, it was determined that the vaccine can still be administered on the morning of December 26, given its viability of 12 hours after removal from the refrigerator.”
The AP reported that authorities released a statement saying the suspect was in prison but did not release any personal information because he has not yet been formally charged.
“The pharmacist responsible for disposing of the vials claimed that this was an accidental error that occurred while the person was accessing other items from the same refrigerator,” Bahr said, adding that the suspect later confessed that the removal was intentional used to be.
When asked about the pharmacist’s motive for taking the doses from the refrigerator, Bahr said Aurora was unable to pass judgment and questioned the local authorities.
The Hill contacted Grafton Police but did not receive an immediate response.
“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this person’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people getting their vaccine, ”the health care system said in a statement.