FDA Blocked Studies on Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

The Food and Drug Administration blocked studies demonstrating the safety of several vaccines in recent months, the New York Times reported. The studies were carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services in recent years. Two of them found that serious side effects to commonly used COVID vaccines were rare.

Scientists in the department analyzed millions of patient records for the research, which cost taxpayers millions of dollars. In October the scientists were ordered to withdraw the two studies even though medical journals had already accepted them. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said in an email that the studies were withdrawn because the authors drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data.

The spokesman added that the FDA acted to protect the integrity of its scientific process and ensure that any work associated with the agency meets its high standards.

During the 2024 presidential election campaign President Donald Trump promised to give an anti-vaccine activist a prominent role in the White House’s health care section. Days after winning the election Trump announced he would nominate that activist for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Senate confirmed the appointment in a vote that largely followed party lines. Since taking office the secretary has made changes to how the U.S. government handles vaccines. In February 2025 the secretary directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop advertising flu vaccinations.

In December an advisory committee made up largely of the secretary’s appointees voted to end the CDC’s recommendation that newborns receive Hepatitis B vaccinations. The secretary also removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices which advises the CDC on vaccines.

One public health official described the action as a departure from normal process.

Party have expressed skepticism about vaccinations especially those related to COVID. Claims that vaccines cause autism are not supported by scientific evidence but gained attention during the pandemic along with other health-related misinformation.

The FDA’s decision to block the studies comes amid these broader discussions about vaccine policy. The New York Times reported the development citing the Department of Health and Human Services spokesman who confirmed the withdrawal of the research.