Washington Opens Investigation into Deaths Suspected to be Linked to COVID-19 Vaccines

Deaths that may be linked to COVID-19 vaccines

Washington Opens Investigation into Deaths Suspected to be Linked to COVID-19 Vaccines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) announcement of an investigation into deaths potentially linked to COVID-19 vaccines has reignited the debate surrounding safety, especially since the review encompasses various age groups.

This also comes at a time of significant shifts in U.S. health policy. The medical community is eagerly awaiting the findings of this broad review, which touches upon one of the most sensitive issues since the start of the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday that the FDA is investigating deaths potentially linked to COVID-19 vaccines across different age groups as part of a review of safety procedures.

The department has not yet specified which age groups the FDA investigation will cover. FDA Commissioner Marty McCurry had previously stated that the agency was investigating these deaths among young adults.

Coronavirus COVID-19

At least 10 children have died.

The FDA’s chief medical and scientific officer, Vinay Prasad, told staff in a memo last month that COVID-19 vaccines may have contributed to the deaths of at least 10 children from heart inflammation and announced plans to tighten vaccine oversight.

The memo did not disclose the children’s health status or the vaccine manufacturers involved. The findings, which have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, were based on a preliminary analysis of a total of 96 deaths between 2021 and 2024.

COVID-19 - Image from iStock

Moderna reiterated its previous statement that there are no new or undisclosed safety concerns in children or pregnant women regarding its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine (SpikeVax).

Similarly, Pfizer affirmed the safety and efficacy of another mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine it markets with its partner BioNTech.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Kennedy Jr. said the government's policy on COVID vaccines changed drastically, limiting access to them for those aged 65 and older, as well as those with underlying medical conditions.