GRAFTON, Wisconsin (AP) – Police and federal authorities are investigating after a Wisconsin health system said an employee admitted to deliberately breaking down 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine.
Aurora Medical Center reported for the first time that the doses were pampered on Saturday, saying they were accidentally left without refraction overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton. The health system said Wednesday that vaccine doses appear to have been deliberately broken.
Police in Grafton, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, said in a statement that the department, the FBI and the Food and Drug Administration are “actively” investigating the case. Police said they were notified Wednesday night of the alleged manipulation. Police said Thursday morning that no further information would be released immediately and declined to say whether any arrests had been made.
In a statement late Wednesday, Aurora said the employee involved “admitted to intentionally removing the vaccine from the refrigerator.”
Aurora said she fired the employee and referred the matter to the authorities. The statement did not say anything about a possible reason for the action.
“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will lead to a delay of more than 500 people receiving the vaccine,” the statement said.
Aurora said she will provide more information on Thursday.
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