Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
No Motive Found In Vaccine Sabotage Case
ABC7 Chicago: Wisconsin Pharmacist Awaiting Charges For Deliberately Spoiling COVID-19 Vaccine, Officials Say
The Wisconsin pharmacist accused of intentionally sabotaging more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine remained in a county jail over the weekend, awaiting formal charges, as questions remain about his motive and access to the vaccine. "It's become clear this was a situation involving a bad actor instead of a bad process," said Dr. Jeff Bahr, president of the Aurora Healthcare Medical Group. It's unclear what if any changes healthcare systems like Advocate Aurora will make, but officials say both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are thoroughly documented. (1/3)
Modern Healthcare: Advocate Aurora Health Defends COVID-19 Vaccine Security After 'Bad Actor' Spoils Doses
Advocate Aurora Health officials said Thursday they are still confident in the system's security protocols despite an employee intentionally removing 570 doses of coronavirus vaccine from refrigerated storage over the weekend, saying the act was the result of a "bad actor" and not "bad processes." A pharmacist at Aurora Medical Center-Grafton in Wisconsin admitted to removing 57 vials, which each containing approximately 10 doses of the Moderna vaccine, from freezers at least twice between Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. The employee, who has not yet been identified, returned the vials into storage each time and has been fired. Local and federal authorities are investigating the incident. (Ross Johnson, 12/31)
In more news about the Moderna vaccine —
NBC 7 San Diego: FDA: Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine May Cause Side Effects In People With Facial Fillers
The FDA advisory committee reviewing the new Moderna vaccine noted a specific side effect involving several trial participants who have cosmetic facial fillers. Carmel Valley facial plastic surgeon Dr. Amir Karam said specifically, facial swelling was seen in a small number of trial patients. “So what they've seen in the 30,000 member trial that Moderna has done, is they found about three of those patients has reaction to the filler. The reaction was localized to where the filler was put in, so in a couple of cases it was the lip and the cheek,” he said. (Payton, 1/3)
Fox News: Oregon Health Care Worker Hospitalized After Allergic Reaction To Moderna Vaccine
An Oregon health care worker was hospitalized following a severe allergic reaction to Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said [last] week. "OHA is closely monitoring the case, which involves an employee at Wallowa Memorial Hospital who experienced anaphylaxis after receiving a first dose of the Moderna vaccine this week," Oregon Health Authority said Thursday in a news release. "The individual is recovering at a hospital." (Fordham, 1/2)
NBC4 Washington: Friends Get Lucky, Randomly Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Before Doses Expire
David MacMillan is not a first responder or healthcare worker. So even he was surprised when a Giant Food pharmacist asked him and his friend if they wanted to get the Moderna vaccine. He posted his experience at the Giant in Northeast D.C. Friday on TikTok. “She turned to us and was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got two doses of the vaccine and I’m going to have to throw them away if I don’t give them to somebody. We close in 10 minutes, do you want the Moderna vaccine?” he relayed in the video. MacMillan didn’t hesitate. ... Giant issued a statement backing the pharmacist’s actions, explaining that the healthcare workers scheduled to get the doses didn’t show. Giant said the D.C. Department of Health makes it clear, if there are extra doses that will expire, they should be given to anyone who will take them. “The Moderna vaccine is valuable and lifesaving, and we are happy to have not wasted it and given this couple each a dose,” Giant said in a statement. (Spencer, 1/3)
