How Federal Health Agencies Downplayed the Risk of Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Vaccination

Publisher Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

Published May 21, 2025

Posted to WTK 2026-05-18

Curation Rank 930

Article ID 14497

This interim report highlights records the Subcommittee has reviewed regarding HHS's awareness of and response to cases of myocarditisa type of heart inflammation"following COVID-19 vaccination. [Some] documents ... have remained hidden from the public and Congress for years. U.S. health officials knew about the risks of myocarditis; Those officials downplayed the health concern; and U.S. health agencies delayed informing the public about the risk of the adverse event. The records [show]: The Israeli Ministry of Health notifying officials at the CDC in late February 2021 of "large reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following the administration of the Pfizer vaccine." Discussions among CDC officials in May 2021 on whether to issue a HAN [Health Alert Network message] on myocarditis, noting that health care professionals across the nation may not be aware of the risk because "providers aren't reporting these cases to VAERS [Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System]." A CDC official providing up-to-date information on the status of the HAN to Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") and Moderna, Inc. ("Moderna") representatives, indicating CDC's preference to keep the vaccine companies more informed about vaccine adverse events, rather than the American people. Draft meeting notes from late May 2021 exchanged between U.S. public health officials which included the question: "Is VAERS signaling for myopericarditis now?"; and the answer: "For the age groups 16-17 years and 18-24 years, yes."

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