GRAFTON, Wisc. — A pharmacist in Wisconsin has now been arrested after he deliberately destroyed 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The unnamed pharmacist worked at the Aurora Medical Center and was originally thought to have made a mistake.
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However, an investigation into the incident found the man intentionally removed 57 vials of Moderna's vaccine from a refrigerator overnight, forcing them to be destroyed. Each of the vials contained 10 doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
According to hospital officials, the pharmacist admitted to removing the vaccine on purpose and was fired.
The man was arrested on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, adulterating a prescription drug, and criminal damage to property.
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."
The value of the spoiled vaccines is estimated to be around $8,000 to $11,000, police said.
“We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine. This was a violation of our core values, and the individual is no longer employed by us,” the hospital said in a statement.
