Trump appointees may take action to suspend, review Covid-19 vaccines: report

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has supported a petition calling for a pause and reassessment of mRNA vaccines. The petition, known as the Hope Accord, asserts there is a "causal link" between the vaccines and rising excess deaths worldwide.

Daily Mail reports that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has privately raised concerns about the vaccines and is open to reconsidering their use if data supports doing so.

Some of Kennedy’s advisors have also questioned the vaccines' safety, including claims on social media that the shots have caused more harm than benefit.

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist being considered for a health advisory role, has also advocated for a temporary halt to vaccinations and further review.

During his first term, former President Donald Trump led the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines, which were credited with helping to control the pandemic at the time. However, the shots have been associated with some risks, including heart inflammation and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.

Data from the US COVID vaccine injury compensation program says that, as of December 2024, approximately 14,000 people had filed claims for vaccine-related injuries or deaths out of the 270 million Americans who received at least one dose.

According to the CDC, 45 percent of adults over 65 have received the most recent COVID booster, while 23 percent of adults over 18 have done so. Preliminary data shows that 651 COVID-related deaths occurred in the week leading up to February 1, compared to 939 deaths attributed to the flu in the same period.