Wisconsin Pharmacist Who Spoiled COVID-19 Vaccines Expected To Plead Guilty

The former pharmacist who allegedly botched more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on purpose, is expected to plead guilty.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, entered a plea agreement to federal charges in connection with the incident, Fox 6 reported Tuesday afternoon (January 26). He intends to plead guilty.

He’ll plead guilty to charges filed Tuesday in federal court: two counts o 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. Each carries a max sentence of up to 10 years in prison, according to a Department of Justice news release.

On Christmas (December 25), Brandenburg left vials containing hundreds of doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine unrefrigerated overnight, causing them to spoil.

Advocate Aurora Health Care Chief Medical Group Officer Jeff Bahr confirmed on December 31 that Brandenburg removed 57 vials, which contained enough doses for about 570 patients.

The doses were worth about $8,000 to $11,000, authorities previously said.

Initially, an internal investigation at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton found that the vials spoiled because of “unintended human error.”

However, Brandenburg was arrested on New Year’s Eve (December 31), after Aurora Health found that the now-former pharmacist “intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration” and fired him.

“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic,” an Aurora Health statement read. “We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine.”

Brandenburg apparently “formed this belief that (vaccines) were unsafe,” according to Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol. The former pharmacist believed the vaccines would mutate a patient’s DNA, court documents show.

Documents also show that, as a pharmacist, he knew that a vaccine would be ineffective after removing it from the refrigerator.

“Pharmacists rank among some of the most trusted professionals,” FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said in the release. “This individual used his special access to tamper with vials of the much needed COVID-19 vaccine. The FBI takes allegations of consumer product tampering very seriously and will use all available resources to bring those to justice who intentionally put the public’s health at risk.”

Brandenburg said he believes in conspiracies and “notions of ‘alternative history,’ and has communicated these same believes to his co-workers at the Grafton Facility for at least the past two years,” according to the plea agreement.

“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,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division said in the release. “The Department of Justice will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to ensure the public receives safe and effective vaccines.”

Photo: Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office