Wisconsin Pharmacist Charged for Tampering with COVID-19 Vaccines

According to a Department of Justice press release dated January 26, 2021, Wisconsin pharmacist Steven 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.

Brandenburg, who has agreed to plead guilty, successfully tampered with a box of COVID-19 vaccine vials that were meant to be distributed to patients at the hospital where he worked. The Moderna vaccines are required to be stored in specific, cold temperatures in order to remain viable. Brandenburg, during two consecutive overnight shifts, left the vials out of the fridge for hours before returning them, thus rendering them ineffective.

FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes said of the crime, “Pharmacists rank among some of the most trusted professionals, 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.”

According to the plea agreement, Brandenburg claimed that he had always been suspicious of vaccines and did not believe in them. His fellow hospital coworkers had heard him share these beliefs about vaccines for at least two years. By the time the crime was uncovered, 57 people had received the vaccine from the affected vials.

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