Fauci warned of miscarriage risk linked to Covid vaccine while publicly claiming

Texts from early 2021 show Anthony Fauci privately warning colleagues that the COVID-19 vaccine could "theoretically" be linked to miscarriages, noting that strong immune reactions and fever after a second dose might pose a first-trimester risk. He raised the concern in a Jan. 25 exchange with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy; Walensky acknowledged the point. Days later Fauci publicly told a JAMA livestream that regulators had found no warning signs for pregnant women, while Murthy later cited CDC follow-up of tens of thousands of vaccinated pregnant women as showing no increase in adverse outcomes and continued to recommend vaccination. The messages also record officials weighing potential vaccine risks against the dangers of SARS-CoV-2 and worrying about World Health Organization guidance on Moderna in pregnancy.

Republican senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson released the communications after obtaining a forensic copy of Fauci’s government phone from a larger trove of texts and voicemails; they allege possible deletion of records and have used the messages to press for further oversight. The disclosures have fueled calls for Fauci to testify, revived accusations that federal officials deleted emails about adverse vaccine reactions, and prompted referrals and threats of subpoenas and prosecution. The exchanges underscore the tension between private scientific caution and public reassurance during the vaccine rollout.