US Vaccine Official Sparks Alarm with Memo on Child Deaths Linked to Covid Vaccination
In a move that has left experts stunned, the top vaccine official in the US has sent a memo claiming that at least 10 children died from Covid vaccination. The alarming statement, made by Vinay Prasad, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and chief medical and scientific officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has raised concerns about the safety of vaccines and the credibility of regulatory agencies.
The memo, which was reviewed by the Guardian, does not provide any evidence to support the claim that Covid vaccines have caused these child deaths. Experts say that without concrete evidence, such a statement is irresponsible and could erode public trust in vaccination programs.
"We've never seen anything like this," said Dan Jernigan, former director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The ultimate outcome will be fewer vaccines and more vaccine-preventable illness."
Jernigan's comments highlight the alarming nature of Prasad's memo, which also suggests that the FDA may change its approach to regulating vaccines. The proposed changes, which include requiring randomized trials showing clinical outcomes instead of demonstrating immune responses for most new products, have sparked concerns among experts.
"It would be highly unusual for the top vaccine regulator to share information in an email to all staff without first convening the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) or publishing the data in a public presentation or study," Jernigan said.
The move has also raised questions about the FDA's approach to investigating vaccine-related side effects. While myocarditis, a rare but serious condition, is a known side effect of Covid vaccines, experts say that it would be necessary to prove that vaccination caused the deaths in question.
"It would need to be proven that myocarditis was caused by vaccination, not by infection with Covid or any other viruses that may cause heart damage," said Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The memo has also sparked concerns about the potential impact on public health. If vaccines such as the flu shot become less accessible due to reduced regulation, it could lead to preventable deaths and undermine confidence in vaccination programs.
"Making the shots less accessible in the US would lead to preventable deaths," said Dorit Reiss, professor of law at UC Hastings College of Law. "It's not a great time to take away influenza vaccines."
The White House has declined to comment on the memo or Prasad's claims about child deaths linked to Covid vaccination.
As experts grapple with the implications of Prasad's memo, one thing is clear: the US vaccine program faces an unprecedented challenge to its credibility and effectiveness.
In a move that has left experts stunned, the top vaccine official in the US has sent a memo claiming that at least 10 children died from Covid vaccination. The alarming statement, made by Vinay Prasad, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and chief medical and scientific officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has raised concerns about the safety of vaccines and the credibility of regulatory agencies.
The memo, which was reviewed by the Guardian, does not provide any evidence to support the claim that Covid vaccines have caused these child deaths. Experts say that without concrete evidence, such a statement is irresponsible and could erode public trust in vaccination programs.
"We've never seen anything like this," said Dan Jernigan, former director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The ultimate outcome will be fewer vaccines and more vaccine-preventable illness."
Jernigan's comments highlight the alarming nature of Prasad's memo, which also suggests that the FDA may change its approach to regulating vaccines. The proposed changes, which include requiring randomized trials showing clinical outcomes instead of demonstrating immune responses for most new products, have sparked concerns among experts.
"It would be highly unusual for the top vaccine regulator to share information in an email to all staff without first convening the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) or publishing the data in a public presentation or study," Jernigan said.
The move has also raised questions about the FDA's approach to investigating vaccine-related side effects. While myocarditis, a rare but serious condition, is a known side effect of Covid vaccines, experts say that it would be necessary to prove that vaccination caused the deaths in question.
"It would need to be proven that myocarditis was caused by vaccination, not by infection with Covid or any other viruses that may cause heart damage," said Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The memo has also sparked concerns about the potential impact on public health. If vaccines such as the flu shot become less accessible due to reduced regulation, it could lead to preventable deaths and undermine confidence in vaccination programs.
"Making the shots less accessible in the US would lead to preventable deaths," said Dorit Reiss, professor of law at UC Hastings College of Law. "It's not a great time to take away influenza vaccines."
The White House has declined to comment on the memo or Prasad's claims about child deaths linked to Covid vaccination.
As experts grapple with the implications of Prasad's memo, one thing is clear: the US vaccine program faces an unprecedented challenge to its credibility and effectiveness.
just saw this news about Vinay Prasad sending a memo claiming 10 kids died from covid vaccines 
and I'm like... what's going on here? 
I mean, we already knew there were some issues with the flu vaccine 
but this is on a whole other level 
, over 10 million kids in the US got vaccinated against covid last year 
and less than 100 reported any serious side effects 
. Meanwhile, we're seeing an increase in cases of myocarditis 
, which is a known risk associated with these vaccines 
but let's not forget that millions of lives have been saved thanks to these shots 
.
The idea that just because there might be some rare side effects, we should question their effectiveness as a whole is...I don't know, it just feels like we're playing with fire 
without fully understanding the consequences. We need to have these tough conversations about vaccine efficacy and safety, but let's not forget that vaccines are still one of our most powerful tools against infectious diseases 
.
.
if the FDA is about to change its approach to regulating vaccines and make randomized trials mandatory for most new products, i guess it's better to be safe than sorry 
. but does that mean we gotta sacrifice public health for the sake of scientific rigor? 
, but another part of me gets why he's trying to shake things up and keep the vaccine program on its toes 
i guess we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out 
. one thing's for sure though - the conversation about vaccine safety is super important, but it needs to be had in a way that's respectful of science and evidence 
.
i mean, what's next? Are we gonna start believing conspiracy theories now? 
its not about being anti-vaxx or pro-vax, its about FACTS and evidence 
and if this happens, it'll be a disaster for public health 
.
. Vinay Prasad's memo is super concerning, and I need to emphasize that we don't have any solid evidence to support the claim about child deaths linked to Covid vaccination.
. We can't afford to undermine public health right now 
.
and it could really undermine trust in vaccines. i mean, what if this sets a precedent for more people questioning vaccine safety? 
but for real though, 10 kids dying from Covid vaccination? that's insane 
i need some proof before i buy into this 
what's next? are they gonna say the flu shot is toxic too? 
. Maybe we can find a way to make vaccines safer while still keeping them effective? 
But at the same time, I don't want people to get sick from taking meds that might not work as well 
. How can we balance these things? 
. experts are sounding the alarm because they're worried that by questioning the safety of vaccines, people might stop getting vaccinated altogether 
. what's important is not just about the science, but also about trust and communication 
.
. after all, that's how we build strong public health systems 
.