FDA Memo on Covid Vaccines Sparks Debate and New Questions
So, let me walk you through what’s been unfolding in the world of health news, because a recent internal memo from the FDA has stirred up a lot of conversation — and concern. According to this memo, which was shared with agency staff and later obtained by NBC News, an internal review at the Food and Drug Administration concluded that at least 10 children died “after and because of receiving” a Covid vaccine. This claim was made by Dr. Vinay Prasad, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and it immediately raised eyebrows across the medical community.
The memo itself is lengthy — about 3,000 words — and states that out of 96 child deaths reported to VAERS between 2021 and 2024, “no fewer than 10” were supposedly linked to Covid vaccination. Now, VAERS is an open reporting system where anyone can submit an entry, and its own website warns that reports may be incomplete, unverified, or even inaccurate. Despite this, the memo treats some of these reports as confirmed cases, although it does not provide the children’s ages, medical backgrounds, or timelines. It also doesn’t identify which vaccine manufacturers were involved. And importantly, these findings have not been published in any peer-reviewed medical journal.
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Naturally, experts pushed back almost immediately. Dr. Paul Offit, a well-known pediatrician and vaccine educator, called the memo “irresponsible” and “dangerous,” saying it amounted to “science by press release.” Others questioned how the data was interpreted, pointing out that VAERS reports are meant to signal things that need further study, not serve as proof of direct causation. Dr. Peter Marks, who previously led the FDA’s vaccine division, went even further, describing the memo as a mix of “misrepresentation and lies” and warning that Covid itself can also cause myocarditis — often more severely than cases associated with vaccines.
What’s also getting attention is the language used in the memo. It’s full of ideological framing, criticizing past decisions as “dishonest,” calling vaccine requirements “coercive,” and even suggesting that vaccine policies “may have harmed more children than saved.” At one point, Prasad tells staff who disagree with his conclusions that they should simply resign. He also proposes major changes to how vaccines are evaluated, from flu shots to pneumonia vaccines.
All of this is happening right before a scheduled CDC advisory meeting where childhood vaccines will be discussed. Meanwhile, extensive research continues to show that Covid vaccines remain safe for children, with large studies across millions of cases finding reduced risks of infection and hospitalization. Some studies do note a small increased risk of myocarditis in teenage boys, but cases have generally been mild and resolved quickly.
So, the memo has clearly triggered a wave of debate, but much of the medical community is urging caution, context, and proper scientific review before drawing conclusions.
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