A Red Cross nurse is under investigation by police in Germany for allegedly swapping the COVID-19 vaccine for saline injections.
This means that people who wanted the vaccine - and believe in the science behind its effectiveness despite conspiracy theories - may not be as sure as they think.
The Covid-19 vaccine saves lives but this nurse's actions, if true, could threaten our progress in ending this global pandemic.
Why would a German nurse give patients a fake vaccine?
While the Red Cross nurse's exact motive is not yet known, police investigators said she had skeptical feelings about the vaccine - at least, according to her social media.
Police also said that at the end of April, a former Red Cross employee who worked at a vaccination center in Schortens confessed to a colleague that he filled syringes with saline instead of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - six syringes , to be exact.
Operators at the center said the unidentified nurse dropped a vial containing the vaccine and tried to cover it up.
The nurse was immediately fired. After that, the authorities carried out antibody tests on people who visited the vaccination center that day.
Because it was impossible to know who received the dose of saline, people were urged to return to receive another dose of the vaccine. As the investigation continues, authorities have realized that they are more affected than they had hoped.
The police suspect thousands of people of having received false vaccines, which deprives them of their right to this important health precaution.
Authorities said the nurse was working at a vaccination site in Friesland. She is suspected of having provided thousands of residents with fake COVID-19 vaccines around March and April 2021.
Sven Ambrosy, an administrator for the Friesland district, took to Facebook to educate the public.
“I am totally shocked by the incident,” he said. “The District of Friesland will do everything possible to ensure that those affected receive their vaccine protection as soon as possible. "
A call was made to approximately 8,600 people. because they may have potentially received a saline solution instead of the vaccination.
It is possible that anyone who received a vaccine from March 5, 2021 to April 20, 2021 at the site of the site, will instead receive a saline solution.
Authorities are urging people to get vaccinated again as a precaution.
The authorities insist that anyone vaccinated at the Roffhausen vaccination center, from March 5, 2021 to April 20, 2021, be vaccinated again.
Or technically not yet if they have never been vaccinated in the first place.
“For peace of mind,” Ambrosy urged patients, “we would recommend people to get more vaccinated. "
The board of health for the state where the alleged incident occurred is also advising the same.
“In this situation,” said Matthias Pulz, president of the Lower Saxony National Board of Health, “it is important that anyone who might be affected is offered catch-up vaccinations”.
“This is the only way to ensure full vaccine protection,” he said, “even if people have already been properly vaccinated twice. "
Injecting saline solution is not dangerous.
Fortunately, the saline solution that was replaced with the actual vaccine is not dangerous.
However, not receiving the proper COVID-19 vaccination puts yourself and others at risk.
Authorities are contacting people who may have received a fake vaccine by phone or email. In addition, a free information hotline has been set up to address people's concerns about this event.
So far, it is unclear whether there have been any arrests related to the case or whether charges will be laid against the nurse.
Izzy Casey is a pop culture, news and entertainment writer for YourTango.
