FDA Blocks COVID and Shingles Vaccine Safety Studies Publication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked the publication of several studies related to the safety of COVID-19 and shingles vaccines, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The decision has intensified concerns about the federal government’s changing stance on vaccines under the leadership of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized vaccine policies and safety oversight.

FDA says conclusions were not supported by data

Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for HHS, told Reuters that the studies were withdrawn because the conclusions reached by researchers were broader than what the data could support.

According to Nixon, the FDA acted to protect scientific integrity and maintain high research standards for studies associated with the agency.

“The studies were withdrawn because the authors drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data,” Nixon said in a statement reported by Reuters.

The FDA did not publicly release details about the specific findings or methodologies involved in the blocked studies.

COVID and shingles vaccines involved

The unpublished research reportedly focused on the safety of vaccines against COVID-19 and shingles.

British pharmaceutical company GSK produces Shingrix, one of the most widely used shingles vaccines worldwide.

Meanwhile, Pfizer and Moderna remain leading manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines used across the United States and other countries.

Vaccine policy changes under Kennedy continue

The blocked studies represent another major development in the Trump administration’s broader restructuring of federal vaccine policy.

Since taking office, Kennedy has supported several controversial actions involving vaccine oversight and federal health agencies. Critics argue the administration has reduced public confidence in immunization programs and scientific transparency.

Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to reduce nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine development funding. The cuts canceled 22 federal projects supervised by BARDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.

In another controversial move, a CDC advisory panel backed by Kennedy voted to remove the mercury-based preservative thimerosal from flu vaccines despite decades of scientific evidence supporting its safety.

Concerns grow over transparency in public health research

Public health experts and vaccine advocates have raised concerns about the FDA’s decision to block publication of vaccine safety studies.

Researchers typically publish studies in scientific journals so other experts can review the data, replicate findings, and evaluate conclusions independently. Critics say withholding research may limit scientific transparency and public trust.

However, federal officials insist the move was necessary to prevent unsupported interpretations from entering the public record.

The report was first published by The New York Times and later confirmed by Reuters.