500 Doses of the Moderna COVID19 vaccine were destroyed by a now-former employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wisconsin. The coronavirus vaccine vials were “intentionally removed”  from refrigeration, forcing officials to throw out nearly 500 doses, according to an internal investigation.

Aurora Medical Center officials had initially suspected the Moderna vaccines, which must be kept between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit, had inadvertently been left out at their Grafton hospital location on December 26.

A later investigation found the individual “acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration,” officials said Wednesday.

The medical center, which is part of Advocate Aurora Health, has notified “appropriate authorities for further investigation” and added that the individual is no longer employed by Aurora. The individual has not been identified.

“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine. This was a violation of our core values.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Aurora Health Care said, more than 21,000 health care workers had received the first of two injections at the company’s centers.

This news comes as providers and first responders across the country from New York to Texas are getting their initial doses and as the more contagious mutant UK version is seen in Colorado.

Moderna Vaccine

The vials can remain at room temperature for up to 12 hours. That allowed clinicians to salvage some of the doses.

The Mercari Texas Bowl between Arkansas and TCU has been canceled due to COVID19 cases, bowl officials said Tuesday.

The game, which was scheduled for New Year’s Eve at NRG Stadium in Houston, was canceled because of an increase in positive COVID-19 tests, injuries and other circumstances within TCU’s program.

TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati said in a statement that those issues left the Horned Frogs short of the Big 12’s threshold for player availability.

It was set to be Arkansas’ first bowl appearance since 2016. The Razorbacks received an invitation, despite a 3-7 record, because the NCAA waived win eligibility requirements this season due to scheduling difficulties stemming from the pandemic. The Razorbacks join Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee as SEC teams that accepted a bowl invitation but will not play in one because of COVID-19 issues with one of the participating teams.

TCU’s season concludes at 6-4. It is the second game the Horned Frogs had to cancel because of virus-related issues; they also canceled their season opener vs. SMU.

While the COVID19 vaccines are in the process of being distributed multiple social media posts state that at the current pace it will take ten years to innoculate everyone.

Texas Bowl – First Event Cancelled For COVID19 Since Christmas

Public health officials have been warning of a surge in COVID19 numbers since Thanksgiving and Christmas travel where more people traveled than almost any other time of the year.