Trump Officials Plan To Link Covid Shots To Child Deaths, Vaccine Shares Fall

Federal health officials in the Trump administration plan to present a report linking COVID-19 vaccines to the deaths of approximately 25 children, based on data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which contains unverified and potentially duplicated reports. This planned presentation to advisors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has contributed to a significant drop in shares of major COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, and BioNTech. The report is controversial, as VAERS data is known to be unfiltered and not confirmed, making it difficult for experts to draw definitive conclusions about vaccine safety. This development follows recent FDA restrictions limiting eligibility for new COVID-19 vaccine doses to higher-risk populations, including those 65 and older or with certain health conditions. The political conflict surrounding COVID-19 vaccines has intensified, especially with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s critical stance on the vaccines, contrasting with earlier praise for Operation Warp Speed under President Trump, which significantly accelerated vaccine development. Health officials emphasize that vaccine safety data continues to be analyzed and shared through established processes, underscoring the ongoing scrutiny amid these claims.