US pharmacist pleads guilty to adulterating Moderna COVID-19 vaccines doses

 A Wisconsin pharmacist on
Tuesday pleaded guilty to tampering with hundreds of the Moderna COVID-19
vaccines, said a press release from the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ report concluded that Steven
Brandenburg intentionally left the vaccine doses unrefrigerated for two
nights last year in December at the hospital where he worked.

As
far the charges are concerned, Brandenburg was charged with two counts of
attempting to tamper with consumer products with reckless disregard for the
risk that another person will be placed in danger of death or bodily injury,
according to court documents filed in US District Court for the Eastern
District.

At
least 57 people received the tampered doses before Brandenburg’s action could
be discovered.

“Tampering
with vaccine doses in the midst of a global health crisis calls for a strong
response, as reflected by the serious charges the United States has brought
today,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Department
of Justice’s Civil Division after the accused plead guilty.

The
charges imposed on Steven carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Meanwhile,
Brandenburg’s medical license was suspended earlier this month after he was
arrested by authorities