US Pharmacist Jailed For 3 Years For Defective COVID-19 Vaccine

JAKARTA - A pharmacist in Wisconsin, USA, who pleaded guilty to trying to tamper with hundreds of doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine because he doubted the vaccine was three years in prison, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

Antara reported on Wednesday, June 9, 46-year-old Steven R Brandenburg was also asked to pay approximately US$83,800 in compensation to the hospital where he works by the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, on Tuesday, June 8.

Brandenburg has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of attempting to tamper with consumer products with the risk that others could be in danger of death or physical injury.

Court documents show he intentionally removed a box containing bottles of COVID-19 vaccine from a hospital refrigeration unit during two consecutive night shift days in December last year, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Brandenburg is skeptical of vaccines in general and Moderna vaccines in particular, and that he has shared his faith with his colleagues for at least the past two years, the Justice Department said.

Moderna vaccines must be stored and shipped frozen but do not require extreme cold and can be stored for 30 days in refrigeration at standard temperatures.