Fired and arrested for intentionally destroying over 500 doses of vaccine against Coronavirus. It happened at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, north of Milwaukee, in Wisconsin (USA): a pharmacist employed in the hospital, and whose name was not disclosed, intentionally rendered hundreds of vials of Modern (already approved by the Food and Drug Administration) after taking them out of refrigerators. The facts date back to the weekend and the man was arrested yesterday, December 31, by local authorities. The charges are those of an attack on public safety and damage to drugs. The estimated economic damage is between 8 thousand he 11 thousand dollars.
Once thawed, Moderna’s vaccine has a window of 12 ore before losing its functionality. Initially the hospital believed it was in time to retrieve some vials but, after administering approx 50 doses, the doctors realized that the serums had been thawed twice and rendered completely ineffective (which, according to the health authorities, does not involve any health risks). The hospital informed the vaccinated individuals and immediately distanced itself from its employee: “We are convinced that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic and we are really disappointed by what happened”, reads the note in which the dismissal of the employee is also communicated. “What happened was a violation of our fundamental values.”
Cover image: ANSA / EDUARDO MUNOZ
