Federal health officials in the Biden administration deliberately delayed warning the public about heart-related complications linked to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new interim report from Sen. Ron Johnson’s office.
Beginning in February 2021, agencies were alerted to “large reports of myocarditis” in young Pfizer vaccine recipients. Yet, vaccine labels weren’t updated until late June to reflect those risks. The 54-page report claims officials knowingly withheld this information, putting young Americans at risk.
The report highlights that doctors who raised early warnings faced censorship or were labeled as spreading misinformation. Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg’s tweet on myocarditis risks was flagged as “misleading” in mid-2021, and cardiologist Dr. Anish Koka’s Twitter account was later suspended for linking to a review article on post-vaccine myocarditis. Johnson’s office reportedly received letters from medical professionals saying they too had faced suppression.
The report outlines how Israeli health officials first alerted the CDC and FDA in late February 2021 to dozens of myocarditis cases. U.S. officials responded cautiously, citing limited data. Still, by mid-April, a Defense Department contractor warned of a “high likelihood” that cardiac symptoms were tied to vaccine reactions, and over 150 cases had been reported to VAERS.
As health officials debated how to respond, internal CDC communications show hesitancy to sound alarms. A draft Health Alert Network (HAN) warning was shelved amid concerns it would appear “alarmist.” The CDC instead posted a web notice on May 28 acknowledging increased reports of heart inflammation, but continued recommending vaccination for those 12 and older.
By June 2021, VAERS reports had risen to 752 cases. On June 25, the FDA finally updated vaccine labels to include myocarditis and pericarditis risks.
Johnson’s report was released just after the FDA announced tighter guidelines for booster shots. “The full extent of the Biden administration’s failure to immediately warn the public must be completely exposed,” the report states, calling for greater transparency and accountability from federal health agencies.
