FDA withdraws publication of COVID, shingles vaccine research findings

Key Points:

• The FDA withdrew studies on the safety of COVID-19 and shingles vaccines, citing unsupported broad conclusions drawn by the authors, aiming to maintain scientific integrity.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly expressed skepticism about vaccine safety and efficacy, making false claims about COVID-19 vaccines during public and confirmation hearings.
• COVID-19 and shingles vaccines are widely supported by extensive clinical trials and health officials affirm their safety and effectiveness in preventing disease and serious adverse events.
• Critics, including former CDC official Dr. Fiona Havers, accuse HHS leadership under Kennedy of censoring high-quality, taxpayer-funded vaccine research that contradicts an anti-vaccine agenda.
• Under Kennedy’s tenure, significant changes to U.S. vaccine policy include canceling mRNA vaccine funding, replacing CDC vaccine advisory committee members with vaccine skeptics, and attempts to reduce the childhood vaccine schedule, some of which have been legally challenged and temporarily blocked.