Former FDA Leaders Challenge New Vaccine Safety Claims

Fri Dec 05 2025 11:39:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A group of former FDA leaders warns against recent assertions undermining vaccine safety, advocating for transparent and science-based vaccination processes.

In a stunning critique, twelve former FDA leaders, bipartisan in nature, have rebuked the agency's latest claims attacking the safety of vaccines, following an internal memo suggesting COVID-19 vaccines may have led to children's deaths. They argue that such changes could jeopardize public health by neglecting decades of research and innovation in vaccine efficacy and safety.

Former leaders from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have publicly denounced a recent internal memo questioning the safety of vaccines, describing it as a harmful pivot from established public health practices.

The memo, attributed to Dr. Vinay Prasad, claimed, without substantial evidence, that COVID-19 vaccines might have caused ten children's deaths. This assertion has raised ire among previous FDA officials who believe it could undermine the public's trust in vaccines, particularly among vulnerable populations susceptible to serious infections.

According to the former FDA officials, the proposed changes in policy are not mere updates but represent a significant departure from the FDA's historical responsibility to prioritize public welfare through vaccine safety. They highlighted that these changes could delay advancements in vaccine prevention and contradict years of scientific research supporting the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

As Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushes to reform national vaccine policy, these remarks from past FDA health leaders emphasize the need for adherence to science-based guidelines rather than political agendas. They urge for more transparency in evaluating vaccines and continuing to combat misinformation that could lead to public health crises.