Harris County Health Practitioner Accused of Stealing COVID-19 Vaccine Says DA Kim Ogg

A Harris County public health doctor is accused of stealing a bottle of COVID-19 vaccine, Harris District Attorney Kim Ogg said Thursday.

Officials said Dr. Hasan Gokal stole the nine-dose vial while working at the county vaccination site in Lyndsay Lyons Park in Humble on December 29, 2020.

A week later, he told a colleague in public health in Harris County, who then reported him to supervisors.

According to Harris County Public Health, mishandling the vaccine could lead to a loss of government funding for the county, prompting an indictment.

Gokal was later fired.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and County Attorney Christian Menefee then contacted prosecutors.

“He abused his position to put his friends and family in line with people who went through the legal process to be there,” Ogg said. “What he did was illegal and he will be held accountable according to the law.”

Officials said Gokal did not comply with existing county protocols to ensure the vaccine is not wasted, but administered to vulnerable populations and front-line workers on a waiting list.

Gokal faces a Class A offense, which carries a sentence of up to one year in prison and a $ 4,000 fine. He is being prosecuted by the public corruption division of Harris County Attorney’s Office.

Paul Doyle, Gokal’s registered lawyer, released a statement on Wednesday:

Dr. Gokal is a dedicated public official who made sure that doses of COVID-19 vaccine that would otherwise have expired entered the arms of people who met the criteria for receiving it. Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal to let the vaccines be lost and is trying to disregard this man’s reputation in the process of supporting this policy. We look forward to our day in court to correct this mistake.