Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul have released a series of text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-issued phone, revealing that Fauci privately expressed concerns in early 2021 about a possible link between COVID-19 vaccines and miscarriage. These concerns were raised despite public assurances at the time from federal health officials that the vaccines were safe for pregnant women.
The disclosure of these communications has intensified scrutiny of how federal health officials communicated vaccine safety to the public, particularly regarding pregnant women. Critics, including some lawmakers, allege there was a disconnect between what officials discussed privately and what they told the public.
The text messages were obtained by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The exchanges include conversations between Fauci, then-CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. In one message dated January 25, 2021, Fauci wrote, “Since many people have significant cytokines storm and fever after the 2nd dose [of the vaccine], this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.” Murthy replied by referencing concerns about mRNA vaccines potentially causing mutations in developing fetuses and noted the anxiety among pregnant women and healthcare professionals at the time.
Private Concerns vs. Public Statements
Despite these private discussions, Fauci and other federal officials continued to publicly state that there were “no red flags” regarding vaccine safety for pregnant women. On February 3, 2021, Fauci told the public that the FDA had found “no red flags about that, about pregnant women.” Similarly, CDC officials, including Sascha Ellington, stated in August 2021 that “we are not seeing a signal of safety concerns of the vaccine in pregnancy.”
Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, commented, “There are so many legitimate questions that must be answered. Some of those questions only he can answer.”
Throughout the pandemic, the CDC has recommended COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women, citing studies that found no increased risk for complications such as miscarriage, preterm delivery, or birth defects. The agency maintains that vaccination helps reduce the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 during pregnancy, a position reflected in its current guidance for pregnant and breastfeeding women on its website.
Senate Investigation and Expert Testimony
The text messages are part of a larger collection of over 34,000 texts and 522 voicemails obtained from Fauci’s phone, according to the Senate committees. Lawmakers are reviewing the material for further public release and have indicated that more disclosures may follow.
The investigation has also included testimony from Dr. James Thorp, an obstetrician-gynecologist, who submitted written remarks to the subcommittee. Thorp alleged that key studies, including a New England Journal of Medicine article, understated miscarriage rates among women vaccinated in the first trimester. He claimed that the actual miscarriage rate was much higher than reported, citing both the Shimabukuro study and Pfizer post-market data.
Thorp further alleged that op-eds by Walensky and New England Journal of Medicine editor Eric Rubin misrepresented the data to encourage vaccination among pregnant women. However, the CDC and most published research continue to find no increased risk of miscarriage associated with COVID-19 vaccination. The agency lists several benefits of vaccination during pregnancy, including protection against severe COVID-19 illness, which can pose significant risks to both mother and baby.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-5 along party lines to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during testimony. The matter has been referred to the Department of Justice for review. Johnson, who voted in favor of contempt, argued that Fauci has not been forthcoming with Congress or the public.
Federal health officials have not addressed the latest criticisms in detail, but the CDC’s current position remains that COVID-19 vaccination is safe for pregnant women and their babies, based on available evidence. The agency continues to recommend vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding women, citing ongoing studies and surveillance data.
The Senate committees plan to continue reviewing Fauci’s communications and related documents for further disclosures. Lawmakers have indicated that additional findings may be released as the investigation proceeds, and they continue to seek answers regarding the decision-making process behind federal vaccine guidance for pregnant women.
