US Vaccine Chief Sparks Alarm Over Memo Suggesting Covid Vaccines Killed Children
The top vaccine official in the US has sparked widespread alarm after sending a memo claiming that at least 10 children died from Covid vaccination. The memo, reviewed by the Guardian, was written by Vinay Prasad, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and chief medical officer at the FDA.
Prasad's assertion that Covid vaccines have killed more healthy kids than they saved is a shocking claim that has raised eyebrows among vaccine experts. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, described the memo as "sensational" and called for evidence to support Prasad's claims.
"We just can't make this up," said Jernigan, who worked at the CDC for 31 years. "It's highly unusual for the top vaccines regulator to share information in an email without first convening outside advisers or publishing data."
Prasad's memo also proposed significant changes to vaccine regulation, including requiring randomized trials showing clinical outcomes instead of demonstrating immune responses for most new products. However, experts argue that such changes would undermine confidence in vaccines and lead to preventable deaths.
"For the first time, we have a vaccines chief who is questioning the safety and efficacy of our Covid vaccines," said Offit. "This is not just a mistake; it's a betrayal of public trust."
The move has sparked concern among experts, who fear that vaccines such as the flu shot may quickly disappear if public trust is damaged. The development also highlights the risks of misinformation spreading through government channels.
"It's getting harder for them to know which recommendations to follow and who they can trust," said Jernigan. "We need clear evidence-based guidance from our health agencies, not sensational claims that undermine confidence in life-saving vaccines."
The FDA has promised to revamp vaccine regulation, but experts warn that such changes should be based on scientific evidence rather than speculation.
"We need to put vaccines on the market with robust clinical trials and then monitor their safety and efficacy," said Dorit Reiss, professor of law at UC Hastings College of Law. "Without evidence of harm, we risk undermining public trust in our health agencies."
The White House has declined to comment on the memo, but officials have stepped up communication about how to report adverse events after vaccination.
As the US continues to navigate the pandemic, one thing is clear: the safety and efficacy of Covid vaccines are under scrutiny. With millions of people vaccinated worldwide, the stakes have never been higher.
The top vaccine official in the US has sparked widespread alarm after sending a memo claiming that at least 10 children died from Covid vaccination. The memo, reviewed by the Guardian, was written by Vinay Prasad, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and chief medical officer at the FDA.
Prasad's assertion that Covid vaccines have killed more healthy kids than they saved is a shocking claim that has raised eyebrows among vaccine experts. Paul Offit, an infectious diseases physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, described the memo as "sensational" and called for evidence to support Prasad's claims.
"We just can't make this up," said Jernigan, who worked at the CDC for 31 years. "It's highly unusual for the top vaccines regulator to share information in an email without first convening outside advisers or publishing data."
Prasad's memo also proposed significant changes to vaccine regulation, including requiring randomized trials showing clinical outcomes instead of demonstrating immune responses for most new products. However, experts argue that such changes would undermine confidence in vaccines and lead to preventable deaths.
"For the first time, we have a vaccines chief who is questioning the safety and efficacy of our Covid vaccines," said Offit. "This is not just a mistake; it's a betrayal of public trust."
The move has sparked concern among experts, who fear that vaccines such as the flu shot may quickly disappear if public trust is damaged. The development also highlights the risks of misinformation spreading through government channels.
"It's getting harder for them to know which recommendations to follow and who they can trust," said Jernigan. "We need clear evidence-based guidance from our health agencies, not sensational claims that undermine confidence in life-saving vaccines."
The FDA has promised to revamp vaccine regulation, but experts warn that such changes should be based on scientific evidence rather than speculation.
"We need to put vaccines on the market with robust clinical trials and then monitor their safety and efficacy," said Dorit Reiss, professor of law at UC Hastings College of Law. "Without evidence of harm, we risk undermining public trust in our health agencies."
The White House has declined to comment on the memo, but officials have stepped up communication about how to report adverse events after vaccination.
As the US continues to navigate the pandemic, one thing is clear: the safety and efficacy of Covid vaccines are under scrutiny. With millions of people vaccinated worldwide, the stakes have never been higher.