A Texas doctor has been charged with stealing nine doses of the coveted COVID-19 vaccine while working at a vaccination site in the county, prosecutors announced Thursday.
Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked with the Harris County Public Health system, is accused of stealing a vial containing the doses from a vaccination site in Humble on Dec. 29, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement.
A week later, Gokal bragged about the theft to a colleague, who then complained to his supervisors, Ogg said.
Gokal was later fired.
Ogg said Gokal stole the doses to give them to his family and friends, leaving those who needed an injection the most without needing a dose.
“He abused his position to line up his friends and family for people who had gone through legal process to be there,” Ogg said of Gokal. “What he did was illegal and he will be held responsible under the law.”
Lawyer Paul Doyle defended his client, arguing that the vaccine would have expired anyway.
“Dr. Gokal is a dedicated public servant who made sure that dosages of the COVID-19 vaccine that would otherwise have expired went into the arms of people who met the criteria to receive it,” Doyle said in a statement to KHOU11 .
Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal to lose the vaccines and is trying to belittle this man’s reputation in the process of supporting this policy. We look forward to our day in court to rectify this, ”the attorney continued.
Gokal is facing a year in prison and a fine of $ 4,000.