WP: Trump administration to connect COVID vaccines to child fatalities

Trump administration health officials are planning to present claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to the deaths of 25 children as the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP) considers new vaccine recommendations, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Washington Post.

The data cited comes from the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which contains unverified reports of side effects submitted by anyone, including patients or social media sources. The CDC emphasises that VAERS alone cannot determine causation, which requires rigorous scientific investigation.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary confirmed on CNN that officials are reviewing reports of possible child deaths, including autopsy findings and family interviews. The review could take months, and the methodology for the planned ACIP presentation has not been fully disclosed.

The planned presentation has alarmed some career scientists, who note that COVID vaccines have been extensively studied in children and argue that the risks of COVID itself are being downplayed. CDC data presented in June indicated that at least 25 children had died from COVID-associated hospitalisations since July 2023, and of the 16 eligible for vaccination, none were up to date.

Next week’s ACIP meeting is significant because its recommendations influence vaccine access, insurance coverage, and whether doctors and pharmacies administer shots. Current proposals under consideration include recommending the vaccine primarily for those 75 and older or people with preexisting conditions, while advising others to consult a physician. Limiting access for ages 65–74 raises concerns about political backlash.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of COVID vaccines, directed earlier this year that healthy children not be routinely recommended the shots. He has reshaped the ACIP, appointing members critical of the COVID vaccination policy and is considering adding more. The American Academy of Paediatrics, however, continues to recommend annual vaccination for children 6 months to 23 months and optionally for older children.

Experts and manufacturers defend vaccine safety. Moderna stated that more than one billion doses worldwide have not revealed new safety concerns in children or pregnant women. Paediatrician Harleen Marwah, reviewing post-June studies for the Vaccine Integrity Project, reported “no new safety concerns.” CDC data show death rates after mRNA vaccination are below those in the general population.

Critics argue that the Trump administration’s focus on alleged vaccine harms downplays the dangers of COVID. Public health professor Noel Brewer said, “They are leveraging this platform to share untruths about vaccines to scare people. The U.S. government is now in the business of vaccine misinformation.”

By Tamilla Hasanova