Newly released emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request reveal that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ignored scheduled meetings with COVID-19 vaccine injury victims, raising concerns about the agency's response to adverse events linked to the vaccines. The documents, obtained by Children’s Health Defense (CHD), shine a light on internal communications between FDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH) officials during late 2021 and early 2022, a period marked by increasing reports of vaccine-related injuries.
Despite public statements affirming the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, internal correspondence shows FDA officials were privately concerned about the growing number of adverse event reports. A notable example involves Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, who received numerous emails from injured individuals and researchers but repeatedly delayed or skipped meetings aimed at addressing their concerns.
Kansas is suing Pfizer for knowingly lying about the safety of its Covid vaccine. Amongst other things, Pfizer said that the vaccine was safe when it knew full well that it caused harm, including to pregnant women. And so on. Remember that Pfizer was granted vaccine injury… pic.twitter.com/iICaa08YO9
— Chamberlain's Ghost (@RSA_Observer) September 3, 2024
One key email from January 2022 highlights how some vaccine injury victims, including retired gastroenterologist Dr. Danice Hertz, secured a virtual meeting with Marks. However, the meeting never took place as Marks failed to attend, leaving participants feeling "abandoned." Many victims, who had suffered serious side effects such as neurological complications, expressed frustration and betrayal in their communications with FDA officials, who often responded with vague or dismissive replies.
The emails further reveal that some scientists within the NIH, including Dr. Farinaz Safavi, warned against administering booster doses to individuals who had experienced significant side effects from the initial vaccine series. In a September 2021 email, Safavi advised one patient to avoid the booster, acknowledging the lack of data on the safety of further doses for those already suffering from severe vaccine reactions. This recommendation starkly contrasts with the public messaging at the time, which heavily promoted booster shots to combat new variants of COVID-19.
Full Clip of Rogan and Weinstein Covid discussion. Highlights include Long Covid is Vaccine Injury, How Many Will End up Dead from the Vaccine, and more! This is what so many of us are thinking but the gaslighting continues. Thank you Bret and Joe for saying the quiet part… pic.twitter.com/FMnPfX9gxF
— These Current Years (@currentyrs) September 5, 2024
The FDA, however, has continued to assert the overall safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, despite these private concerns. Marks, in particular, has publicly downplayed the extent of adverse events, arguing that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. In recent interviews, he emphasized that while the vaccines may not prevent all infections, they play a critical role in reducing severe illness and death, a claim that has been reiterated in his congressional testimonies.
Documents show that while some vaccine-injured individuals received telehealth consultations or limited advice from NIH researchers, many others were left in the dark. Victims described how communication from health authorities deteriorated over time, leaving them feeling neglected. One email from early 2022 expressed the sense of abandonment felt by hundreds of individuals suffering from vaccine injuries. Despite initial engagement from NIH officials, the conversations had reportedly ceased, with no further research or treatment options offered.
These revelations have amplified concerns about the FDA's commitment to addressing vaccine injuries. Critics argue that the agency's failure to meet with affected individuals and researchers reflects a broader reluctance to acknowledge and address the full scope of vaccine-related adverse events. The FDA's refusal to hold in-person meetings during the pandemic, coupled with its bureaucratic delays, has left many feeling their voices are not being heard.
The ongoing release of documents by CHD, which stem from a lawsuit against the NIH for failing to provide records in a timely manner, is expected to uncover more details in the coming months. With over 7,500 pages of correspondence to be released, many anticipate further revelations about the government's handling of vaccine safety concerns during the pandemic.
