Wisconsin pharmacist who intentionally spoiled COVID-19 vaccines believed they were ‘unsafe’

A Wisconsin pharmacist who is accused of purposely trying to ruin hundreds of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the medical facility where he worked told authorities he did so because he believed the inoculations were “unsafe” and could change people’s DNA, officials said Monday, according to The Associated Press.

Former Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist Steven Brandenburg was arrested last week after hospital officials said he removed 57 vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which constitutes 500 doses, from temperature-controlled storage overnight on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. A pharmacy technician discovered that the vials containing the vaccine had not been refrigerated on Dec. 26. 

The hospital initially said in a statement that the vials were “inadvertently” removed because of “human error.” Two days later, the hospital said in a statement that the individual was found to have purposefully discarded the vaccine and was no longer employed.

In a statement on Dec. 28, the hospital said “some of the vaccine was administered to team members on Dec. 26 within the approved 12-hour post-refrigeration window” but that the rest had to be discarded. Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr later said that the doses people received on Dec. 26 would not be effective in protecting patients against COVID-19, according to AP. 

Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol said during a virtual hearing Monday that Moderna should test the doses to ensure that they are not effective before law enforcement officials can pursue additional charges other than the destruction of property.

Gerol said Brandenburg had believed the vaccines were “unsafe.” A probable cause statement indicates that Brandenburg was a conspiracy theorist who wanted to discard the vaccine because he believed they would change people’s DNA, AP reported. 

Judge Paul Malloy set bond at $10,000 for Brandenburg. He has been ordered to surrender all firearms, not to contact Aurora employees and not to work in the healthcare field.

The Hill has reached out to the Ozaukee County District Attorney’s Office for comment.