Investigation Finds FDA Raised Concerns About COVID Vaccine Side Effects That Were Not Fully Addressed

Mon, 04 May 2026 01:46:00 +0200

A recent report by Senator Ron Johnson suggests that the Biden administration may have neglected potential COVID-19 vaccine side effects during the early rollout of the vaccines. The investigation focused on Dr. Ana Szarfman, a senior FDA official and data analyst, who identified dozens of statistically significant safety signals using advanced techniques in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). These signals included serious conditions such as sudden cardiac death, Bell’s palsy, and pulmonary infarction. Despite sharing these findings with FDA officials responsible for vaccine safety, Dr. Szarfman was reportedly told to halt further analysis. Experts at the FDA expressed concern that highlighting these signals could fuel anti-vaccine sentiment. The report criticizes the administration’s focus on promoting universal vaccine uptake, especially among younger populations with low risk from COVID-19, over thoroughly investigating potential safety issues. While VAERS is a repo