Newly released text messages show former federal health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, privately weighing potential COVID-19 vaccine risks for pregnant women in early 2021 before publicly stating no safety issues had been detected.
Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin released 11 text messages Monday retrieved from more than 34,000 messages recovered from Fauci’s former government-issued phone. In the January 2021 exchange, incoming federal health leaders debated how to advise pregnant women during the initial vaccine rollout.
In the messages, former Surgeon General nominee Dr. Vivek Murthy asked if pregnant women should receive vaccines earlier or later in pregnancy. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that severe fever or cytokine storms following second vaccine doses "theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester." Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky called it a "good point," while Fauci added a day later that officials must "weigh the potential risks against the benefits," noting over 10,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated at the time with no reported issues.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Dr. Fauci was COVERING UP data showing a miscarriage rate of OVER 80% in pregnant women who received mRNA COVID vaccines in their first trimester
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 10, 2026
It was effectively an ABORTION SHOT. This is MURDER.
Per documents released today by @RandPaul and @SenRonJohnson,… pic.twitter.com/k3lol6qArZ
Senators Paul and Johnson criticized the timing of subsequent public statements, pointing out that Fauci stated in a February 2021 media appearance that regulators had found "no red flags" regarding pregnant women. In a statement, Johnson argued officials should not delay informing the public of theoretical concerns.
Health experts and former officials note that pregnant women were initially excluded from early clinical trials. However, subsequent large-scale observational studies tracking over one million pregnant women nationwide led the CDC to formally recommend COVID-19 vaccination in August 2021, concluding the shots carry no increased risk of miscarriage or pregnancy complications compared to the severe health risks of contracting COVID-19 while pregnant.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
