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A Wisconsin pharmacist accused of intentionally sabotaging hundreds of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will plead guilty to charges in federal court, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.
Steven R. Brandenburg, a 46-year-old hospital pharmacist from Grafton, Wisconsin, tried to mess up the doses of the Moderna vaccine – which must be stored at cold temperatures to remain effective – by removing them from the refrigeration unit of the hospital, the Justice Department said.
Mr. Brandenburg will plead guilty to two counts of “attempting to adulterate consumer products with reckless disregard of the risk that another person may be put in danger of death and injury”. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
During two night shifts – Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – Mr Brandenburg left the doses on for several hours before putting them back in the fridge for use the next day, according to a plea agreement.
Mr Brandenburg had for at least two years told his colleagues about his beliefs in “conspiracy theories” and “alternative history” and had indicated that he was skeptical of vaccines, especially the Moderna vaccine, according to the report. plea agreement. Police earlier called him a “recognized conspiracy theorist”.
The doses Mr Brandenburg had removed from the refrigeration ended up in the arms of 57 people before his conduct was discovered. Whether the doses were in fact rendered ineffective was still under investigation.
“The FDA has ensured that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine meets the agency’s stringent standards for quality, safety and efficacy,” said Catherine A. Hermsen, deputy commissioner of criminal investigations at Food and Drug Administration, in a statement. “Those who knowingly handle this vaccine put the health of American patients at risk. Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder that this type of illicit forgery activity will not be tolerated. “
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