Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

US FDA Blocked Study Showing COVID And Shingles Vaccines Are Safe

Officials at the US Food and Drug Administration have blocked publication of several studies supporting the safety of widely used vaccines against COVID-19 and shingles in recent months, according to a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

While the studies found serious side effects to be very rare, the HHS said they were pulled over concerns about their conclusions. These withdrawals aim to limit access to vaccines, reflecting broader policy changes under US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch critic of vaccines.

"The studies were withdrawn because the authors drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data. The FDA acted to protect the integrity of its scientific process and ensure that any work associated with the agency meets its high standards," said Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the HHS, which oversees the FDA, in an email to Reuters.

The last one year of Trump administration, along with Kennedy as the head of the HHS, saw significant cut in research funding for vaccine development. It also fueled doubt on vaccines, and blocked other information supporting their safety.

The list includes research on COVID vaccine effectiveness by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In October, the scientists were directed to withdraw two COVID vaccine studies that had been accepted for publication in medical journals. Further, in February, top FDA officials did not sign off on submitting abstracts about studies of Shingrix, a shingles vaccine, to a major drug safety conference.

“The design of that study fell outside the agency’s purview,” Nixon said on rejecting the shingles vaccine. He did not address a question about the Shingrix safety study, which found the vaccine to be safe.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/donald-trumps-squirrel-remark-fuels-debate-over-brain-health-and-cognitive-tests-article-154257158" data-type="tilCustomLink">Donald Trump’s 'Squirrel' Remark Fuels Debate Over Brain Health And Cognitive Tests</a>

<li></li><h2>HHS Under Kennedy: Science And Vaccine Takes A Back Seat </h2><li></li><li></li>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took charge of America's health as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2025.

In June 2025, his office asked CDC staff members to delete from the agency’s website a 17-page summary supporting the safety of thimerosal, an additive largely removed from vaccines 25 years ago.

Further, in August, Kennedy called the journal Annals of Internal Medicine to “immediately retract” a large Danish study concluding that the vaccine additive aluminum salts were safe. However, the study was not retracted.

Recently, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was serving as interim leader of the CDC, canceled the publication of a report concluding that the Covid vaccine sharply cut the odds of hospitalizations and emergency room visits last winter, saying the study had limitations.

“At a moment when public trust in institutions like the CDC is fragile, we cannot afford to lower our standards,” Dr. Bhattacharya wrote in an editorial about news coverage of his decision.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/medical-miracle-world-first-frozen-testicular-implant-gives-infertile-uk-man-hope-of-fatherhood-article-154253155" data-type="tilCustomLink">Medical Miracle: World First Frozen Testicular Implant Gives ‘Infertile’ UK Man Hope of Fatherhood</a>

Last June, a CDC panel backed by Kennedy voted to remove the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from flu shots, despite long-standing clinical evidence of its safety.

In August 2025, the HHS said it would wind down nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine development, canceling 22 federal projects overseen by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a government-backed funding body.

Other vaccines, including flu and hepatitis A, were also removed from routine recommendations. He also directed the CDC to stop recommending the vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children.

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Officials at the US Food and Drug Administration have blocked publication of several studies supporting the safety of widely used vaccines against COVID-19 and shingles in recent months, according to a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).While the studies found serious side effects to be very rare, the HHS said they were pulled over concerns about their conclusions. These withdrawals aim to limit access to vaccines, reflecting broader policy changes under US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch critic of vaccines."The studies were withdrawn because the authors drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data. The FDA acted to protect the integrity of its scientific process and ensure that any work associated with the agency meets its high standards," said Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the HHS, which oversees the FDA, in an email to Reuters.The last one year of Trump administration, along with Kennedy as the head of the HHS, saw significant cut in research funding for vaccine development. It also fueled doubt on vaccines, and blocked other information supporting their safety.The list includes research on COVID vaccine effectiveness by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).In October, the scientists were directed to withdraw two COVID vaccine studies that had been accepted for publication in medical journals. Further, in February, top FDA officials did not sign off on submitting abstracts about studies of Shingrix, a shingles vaccine, to a major drug safety conference.“The design of that study fell outside the agency’s purview,” Nixon said on rejecting the shingles vaccine. He did not address a question about the Shingrix safety study, which found the vaccine to be safe.Also read: Donald Trump’s 'Squirrel' Remark Fuels Debate Over Brain Health And Cognitive TestsHHS Under Kennedy: Science And Vaccine Takes A Back Seat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took charge of America's health as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2025.In June 2025, his office asked CDC staff members to delete from the agency’s website a 17-page summary supporting the safety of thimerosal, an additive largely removed from vaccines 25 years ago.Further, in August, Kennedy called the journal Annals of Internal Medicine to “immediately retract” a large Danish study concluding that the vaccine additive aluminum salts were safe. However, the study was not retracted.Recently, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was serving as interim leader of the CDC, canceled the publication of a report concluding that the Covid vaccine sharply cut the odds of hospitalizations and emergency room visits last winter, saying the study had limitations.“At a moment when public trust in institutions like the CDC is fragile, we cannot afford to lower our standards,” Dr. Bhattacharya wrote in an editorial about news coverage of his decision.Read More: Medical Miracle: World First Frozen Testicular Implant Gives ‘Infertile’ UK Man Hope of FatherhoodLast June, a CDC panel backed by Kennedy voted to remove the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from flu shots, despite long-standing clinical evidence of its safety.In August 2025, the HHS said it would wind down nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine development, canceling 22 federal projects overseen by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a government-backed funding body.Other vaccines, including flu and hepatitis A, were also removed from routine recommendations. He also directed the CDC to stop recommending the vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children.