GRAFTON, Wis. – An employee at the suburban Milwaukee Aurora Hospital intentionally left 500 vials of COVID vaccine out overnight without refrigeration, the hospital reported. Earlier the hospital said that supervisors thought the lapse was accidental. Updating the situation, the hospital said: “We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine.” The employee was fired. The matter has been referred to authorities, the hospital said. The hospital declined to release details about the employee or motive.
Hospital profile
The 127-bed Aurora Hospital in Grafton opened in 2020. It is owned by Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit company headquartered in Milwaukee. The company operstes 15 hospitals, 150 clinics and 70 pharmacies in eastern Wisconsin. There are 32,000 employees, including 1,800 physicians.