Web desk: The US Food and Drug Administration has reviewed reports suggesting that at least 10 children may have died following Covid-19 vaccination, according to a New York Times report.
The cases reportedly involved myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation. The information has not been independently verified, and the FDA has not publicly released full details.
Covid vaccines
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment, as per the reports.
However, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary acknowledged the report during an interview on Fox News.
“There were, it appears, 10 deaths of children from the Covid shots,” he told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” weekend show, citing data gathered during the Biden administration.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has recently introduced major changes to the federal Covid-19 vaccine policy.
Access to Covid vaccines is now limited to people aged 65 and older, along with those who have underlying health problems.
Kennedy was widely known for his criticism of vaccines before becoming health chief under President Donald Trump and has pushed for changes in national immunisation policy.
During the early years of the pandemic, under Trump and later President Joe Biden, US health agencies strongly supported widespread Covid-19 vaccination.
Makary said the first vaccines released in 2020 provided strong protection for older adults and high-risk groups. But he questioned the scientific basis for giving certain Covid shots annually to young people.
According to the New York Times, the memo outlining the new findings was written by Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s chief medical and scientific officer.
The memo did not include the ages, medical histories or vaccine manufacturers involved.
Prasad described the review as significant and said the agency would increase oversight. Including calling for randomised studies for all demographic groups.
The Times reported that the findings have not been published in any peer-reviewed medical journal.
The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee is expected to examine the issue in an upcoming meeting.
Prasad, an oncologist who previously criticised US Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates, returned to his senior FDA post in September.
He advises the commissioner and other top officials on emerging scientific and medical matters.
