FDA Official Raises Concerns Over COVID Vaccine and Child Deaths

A recent internal memo from the FDA has sparked debate about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The memo, written by Dr. Vinay Prasad, suggests a possible link between the vaccine and the deaths of at least 10 children. However, the memo lacks crucial details, such as the ages of the children and their medical histories, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Prasad's memo highlights a shift in the FDA's approach to vaccine safety. He mentions that the deaths may be related to myocarditis, a rare heart inflammation seen in some individuals after vaccination. Prasad also plans to propose stricter oversight and new reviews for vaccines, although these changes would require federal approval. Critics argue that the memo lacks essential context. Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatric vaccine expert, points out that children treated for vaccine-related myocarditis at his hospital typically recovered quickly. He also notes that myocarditis caused by the COVID virus itself can be severe and require intensive care. The timing of the memo, just before a major CDC vaccine meeting, has raised eyebrows. Infectious disease specialist Michael Osterholm calls it an "irresponsible" way to handle a critical public health issue. Prasad's memo also criticizes past vaccination mandates, stating that they "coerced" people into receiving COVID shots. If adopted, Prasad's recommendations could make vaccine development more costly and potentially fuel mistrust in vaccines. This is concerning given the rise of measles, whooping cough, and other illnesses worldwide. Dr. Peter Marks, Prasad's predecessor, describes the memo's tone as unusually political and emphasizes the need for careful review of the reported cases. He suggests that the attributions may be debatable due to the complexity of the cases.