Police in Grafton, Wisconsin, have arrested a pharmacist formerly employed by Aurora Health who intentionally spoiled 500 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine on Thursday.
The pharmacist was arrested on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property. He is currently held at the Ozaukee County jail. The identity of the pharmacist is being withheld at this time.
Officials said they became increasingly suspicious of the employee’s behavior during their investigation of the matter, and after multiple interviews admitted to removing and then returning the vaccine to the refrigerator the night before, between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, he said.
The monetary value of the vaccines was estimated to be between $8,000 and $11,000.
A hospital official confirmed that 57 people received the spoiled vaccine, but there was no health harm in receiving the spoiled vaccine. It would be rendered ineffective, and this was confirmed by Moderna.
Grafton police said the pharmacist, “knew the spoiled vaccinations would be useless and that people who received the vaccinations would think they had been vaccinated against the virus when in fact they were not.”
There was no known motive at this time.
Local source WTMJ-4 and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
