Two Republican senators have released text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s former government phone, revealing discussions about the safety of the COVID vaccine during pregnancy. The texts, obtained by Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, show Fauci responding to concerns about the vaccine’s potential risks for pregnant women.
Fauci’s Texts
In one exchange on January 25, 2021, Dr. Vivek Murthy, then a member of President Joe Biden’s COVID advisory board, asked about potential risks to pregnant women. Fauci responded that there was no data or theoretical reason to believe that vaccinating early versus later in pregnancy would be preferred. However, he noted that the vaccine could potentially cause a cytokine storm and fever after the second dose, which could be associated with miscarriage in the first trimester.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, then-director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), replied that this was a good point, especially after the second dose. In another exchange, Fauci said that any vaccine with limited data on pregnancy should be carefully considered, weighing the potential risks against the benefits. He noted that a COVID infection could be especially serious in pregnancy.
The CDC formally recommended on August 11, 2021, that pregnant people receive the vaccine after analyzing data and finding no increased risks of miscarriage or other safety concerns related to the shot. Studies have since shown that the vaccines were safe during pregnancy, and that serious adverse reactions are rare.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
