FDA Claims COVID Vaccine Caused 10 Child Deaths, Expands Investigation to Adults

After an internal memo reportedly linked the COVID-19 vaccine to the deaths of at least 10 children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating potential vaccine deaths "across other age groups."

Original Report: The New York Times (Lean Left bias) reported on November 28 that it had seen the memo and that the agency was considering new regulations in its wake.

New Details: On December 10, mainstream outlets across the spectrum reported that the investigation was being expanded to other age groups after Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson Andrew Nixon reportedly told AFP, "(The) FDA is doing a thorough investigation, across multiple age groups, of deaths potentially related to COVID vaccines." FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told The Daily Signal (Right) the investigation is "ongoing" and that he believes the agency has a "moral duty" to "let the public know" what it finds.

Split Narrative: On December 12, CNN (Lean Left) reported that the FDA intended to put its most serious "black box" warning on COVID vaccines, according to "two people familiar with the agency's plans." Nixon reportedly rejected the report and said it was "pure speculation."

How The Media Covered It: Several mainstream outlets from the left expressed skepticism at the FDA's original claim of child vaccine deaths and prominently wrote that it did not provide details about how the conclusion was reached in the memo. Outlets from the right generally did not note this. Several included details about potential side effects of the COVID vaccine. 

Left Outlier: Benjamin Mazer of The Atlantic (Left) wrote in an opinion that "there's something troubling—and telling—in the fact that his memo has provoked people to deny even the possibility of COVID-vaccine-related deaths. The idea that mRNA-based shots have, tragically, killed a very small number of children is not far-fetched." Mazer's subheadline read, "Denial only serves the aims of anti-vaxxers."

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