"New York Times": Internal memo from the U.S. FDA links the deaths of 10 children to COVID-19 vaccines

The New York Times revealed that an internal memo from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that at least ten children may have died as a result of effects related to COVID-19 vaccines, in the latest development that brings the debate over vaccine safety back to the forefront.

According to the newspaper, the memo prepared by the agency's chief medical and scientific officer, Vinay Prasad, suggests that myocarditis may be a potential cause of those deaths; however, the document did not include detailed information about the ages of the children, their previous health conditions, or the manufacturers of the vaccines in question.

Prasad, known for his outspoken criticisms of vaccine and mask mandates during the pandemic, described the findings as a “deep revelation,” announcing that the agency intends to tighten the regulatory standards governing vaccine approvals, including requiring more comprehensive randomized studies for all age groups.

The newspaper added that the vaccine committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing to hold a meeting in the coming days, amid expectations that the memo will open the door to a broader discussion about vaccination policies and monitoring rare side effects.

This controversy comes as U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. moves to reshape government policy regarding COVID-19 vaccines, limiting access to those over 65 years old or those with underlying health conditions. Kennedy is one of the most prominent vaccine skeptics prior to his appointment and has previously linked vaccines to disorders such as autism.

During the first term of Donald Trump and then the Biden administration, health authorities adopted a strongly supportive stance on vaccines as a key tool for saving lives and reducing mortality. However, the contents of the recent internal memo bring the discussion back to square one and raise new questions about the balance between health necessities and scientific safety requirements.