E&C Democratic Leaders Blast RFK Jr.’s Ongoing Censorship of COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Data
E&C Democratic Leaders Blast RFK Jr.’s Ongoing Censorship of COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Data
Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders wrote to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. raising serious concerns over the ongoing suppression of scientific data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines at the health agencies he oversees. The Committee leaders also demanded that Secretary Kennedy publicly release the data so patients and health care providers can use this information in their guidance and decision making.
According to recent reports, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists were coerced to withdraw two studies demonstrating the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
The letter was signed by Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY).
“Not only are you preventing release of information that can help inform Americans in their decisions to get themselves and their families vaccinated, but you are also preventing health care providers from utilizing data that helps them advise their patients,” the Democratic Committee leaders wrote. “We demand that you stop playing dangerous games with science and stop putting politics before the health of the American people. The FDA’s core mission is to protect the public health, and that should be top of mind for you rather than engaging in political missions to hide important health information from the public.”
One of the studies blocked from publication by FDA leadership reviewed records of over 7 million Medicare patients after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The data demonstrated the vaccine was safe, with no new safety signals present.
Kennedy’s efforts appear to be part of an ongoing trend suppressing data inconsistent with his political ideology. Earlier this year, FDA reportedly stopped the submission of a study on the Shingles vaccine to a drug safety conference. The study supported the scientific consensus that the Shingles vaccine is effective.
“The suppression of this research yet again demonstrates the lengths to which HHS will go to fan the flames of your vaccine skepticism,” the Democratic leaders continued.
Earlier this month, the Democratic leaders raised concerns after reports circulated that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blocked publication of a study finding the COVID-19 vaccine cut hospitalizations in half.
Read the full letter HERE.
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