WI Pharmacist Accused In Vaccine Incident Has License Suspended

GRAFTON, WI—A former pharmacist of Advocate Aurora Health Hospital, who is accused of trying to ruin hundreds of Moderna vaccine doses because he believed them to be unsafe, had his license suspended by a state board on Wednesday.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, is accused of intentionally trying to ruin hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine doses by taking them out of refrigeration for two nights. The damaged doses were estimated to be worth up to $11,000.

The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board said Brandenburg cannot practice pharmacy while the suspension is in place.

Brandenburg has still not been charged as of Thursday. Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol told a judge at a Jan. 4 hearing that the hospital had walked back some of the information it provided. The vials in question have not since been destroyed and may still be viable.

During the court hearing, held over Zoom, Gerol said time is needed to test the evidence and get clarification from Aurora. If the Moderna vaccine is still good, Brandenburg could be charged with attempted criminal property damage, a misdemeanor.

Brandenburg is facing two possible felony charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and criminal damage to property. Brandenburg's next hearing is set for Jan. 19. A judge set Brandenburg's bond at $10,000. Brandenburg who is out on bail is to have no contact with Aurora employees.

According to a TMJ4 report, Brandenburg told investigators that he believed the vaccine was not safe for people and would "harm them and change their DNA," the TMJ4 report said.

Brandenburg is an "admitted conspiracy theorist," according to the Grafton Police Department.

Both vaccines approved for use in the U.S. so far, made by Pfizer and Moderna, have gone through phase three trials and have been given emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, indicating that they are safe.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the data from clinical trials demonstrates that the known and potential benefits of the vaccines outweigh the known and potential harms of becoming infected with the coronavirus.