FDA Official Warned Anthony Fauci

Emails fuel partisan fight over whether Fauci ignored vaccine safety warnings.

from 13 sourcesUpdated Aug 16, 6:46pm ET

The reporting

A neutral summary of the key facts most sources agree on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum.

Sens. Ron Johnson and Rand Paul released Anthony Fauci’s government-phone texts from January 2021 and a May 27, 2021 email from Janet Woodcock, then acting FDA commissioner, about COVID-19 vaccine safety questions. The texts show Fauci was told early vaccine studies had not included women in the first trimester of pregnancy, when miscarriage risk was a concern in trial design. Woodcock urged Fauci and Francis Collins to use NIH research funding to study adverse effects. Federal health agencies and later studies have continued to recommend COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

Analysis & opinion

The arguments that emerged from this coverage — built only from the analysis and opinion pieces, never from straight reporting. Each dot is one article, placed by its outlet's bias — left to right. How to read our graphics →

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Miscarriage Claims FalseMostly Left

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has not been shown to increase miscarriage risk. Attacks on Anthony Fauci or vaccines that claim otherwise rely on false, selective, or misleading evidence.

Ignored Vaccine HarmsMostly Right

Federal health officials knew or were warned that COVID-19 vaccines could cause serious side effects, but they pushed vaccination while downplaying or suppressing those concerns. The vaccine rollout showed reckless disregard for health and safety.