Steven Brandenburg, A Pharmacist From Grafton Was Taken Into Custody By Police In Wisconsin For Alleged Intentional Tempering Of 57 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Vails Containing 570 Doses

Feds And Police are unvestigating an intentional tempering of 57 vials of the COVID-19 vaccine by a 46- year-old Pharmacist at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 1, 2021

Grafton, WI - The FBI, the Food and Drug Administration and the Grafton Police Department in Wisconsin are investigating an intentional tampering of at least 570 doses (57 vials, each holds 10 doses) of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by a 46-year-old Pharmacist at the Aurora Hospital (Aurora Medical Center) in Grafton.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, from Grafton and a state registered Pharmacist has not been officially identified by either the feds, police or the hospital administration, but has been terminated, according to the hospital administration after learning that the incident occurred on two separate occasions December 24 and 25th and Brandenburg confessing to the Aurora Health Hospital Public Safety officials in a statement that he intentionally removed the vials from the refrigerator and left the COVID-19 vials of the vaccine at room temperature over night, which later became ineffective. Each COVID-19 vial holds 10 vaccine shots.

Police estimated that at least $8,000 to $11,000 total of damage cost was reported due to the COVID-19 vaccine vials being destroyed after becoming ineffective due to prolonged exposure to room temperature overnight.

At least 57 people received the ineffective COVID-19 vaccine doses that Brandenburg deliberately spoiled, according to medical reports from Aurora Hospital officials in Grafton.

The vaccine must be kept frozen in a refrigerator and once thawed, it can not be frozen again. The COVID-19 vaccine lasts for at least 12 hours in room temperature.

So far, no charges have been filed against Brandenburg, but he was taken into custody pending charges. Brandenburg was booked at the Ozaukee County Jail on New Year's Eve on charges that included one felony count for 1st-degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, one felony count for Criminal Damage to Property and police added an additional felony charge for Adultering a Prescription Drug.

If convicted on all pending charges, Brandenburg is facing up to 12 years and 6 months in prison and up to $25,000 in fines for 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety, he is facing up to 3 years and 6 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for criminal damage to property and an additional 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for adultering a prescription drug.