Federal health officials were urged to investigate reports of adverse health effects following COVID-19 vaccination, according to newly released emails obtained by Senate Republicans. The correspondence, shared by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rand Paul (R-KY), includes a May 27, 2021 message from Dr. Janet Woodcock, then-acting commissioner of the FDA, to Dr. Francis Collins (NIH director) and Dr. Anthony Fauci (NIAID director).
Two key developments emerged from the documents:
- Woodcock’s request for a study on post-vaccination health issues, citing concerns from healthcare professionals and patients who reported unresolved symptoms.
- Fauci’s acknowledgment of the issue, responding that the concerns could not be ignored and suggesting coordination with the CDC.
The emails were released as part of ongoing congressional scrutiny into pandemic-era health policies and the handling of vaccine-related adverse events.
Immediate Response and Coordination
On May 27, 2021, Woodcock wrote to Collins and Fauci, stating she had been contacted by multiple individuals—including healthcare workers—who experienced adverse events after receiving any of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines. She noted that symptoms were often difficult to quantify or diagnose, and patients reported feeling unheard by medical authorities.
Woodcock emphasized the need for a formal study, stating:
“It would be worthwhile to do a study and evaluate a cohort of these individuals. My experience is, that if you let a problem fester, then it will come back to bite you later and you are not prepared.”
Fauci replied to Collins without including Woodcock in the response, acknowledging the issue but deferring to the CDC for further action. He wrote:
“We cannot ignore her.”
Fauci suggested involving Dr. Rochelle Walensky, then-director of the CDC, to address the concerns.
Earlier Warnings on Vaccine Risks
Separate documents released by the same senators in July 2024 revealed that Dr. John Mascola, director of the NIAID Vaccine Research Center, informed Fauci in January 2021 that initial COVID-19 vaccine trials had not included pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester. Mascola noted:
“Initial studies avoided vaccination in the first trimester due to possible fever and higher rates of miscarriage in the first trimester.”
Fauci then shared this concern with Dr. Vivek Murthy (Surgeon General) and Walensky, warning:
“Since many people have significant cytokine storms and fever after the second dose, this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the first trimester.”
The documents did not indicate whether further action was taken at the time.
Context and Background
The newly released emails and texts are part of a broader effort by Senate Republicans to examine the transparency and response protocols of federal health agencies during the pandemic. The documents add to previous disclosures, including Fauci’s invocation of the Fifth Amendment during a July 29, 2024 Senate hearing, where he declined to answer questions about his role in pandemic policies.
Critics of the agencies’ handling of vaccine safety have pointed to the exclusion of pregnant women from early trials as a potential oversight, while supporters argue that real-world data later confirmed vaccine safety for this group.
The FDA and NIH have not publicly commented on the newly released emails as of the time of reporting.