9% credible (11% factual, 6% presentation). Bret Weinstein's claim of FDA recognition of COVID vaccine harms to children, based on a disputed leaked memo, lacks substantiation as experts widely refute the causal link to 10 child deaths. The post's framing escalates to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories, further undermining credibility.
Bret Weinstein shares a purported leaked FDA memo alleging that COVID-19 vaccines caused the deaths of 10 healthy children, framing it as evidence of broader systemic failures including bioweapon leaks and regulatory capture. The memo's claims are disputed by public health experts who question the causal link and call the analysis irresponsible. This post amplifies controversy around recent FDA statements on tightening vaccine approvals.
The post cites a leaked FDA memo linking COVID-19 vaccines to 10 child deaths, but this claim is misleading as experts widely dispute the causal connection, labeling the memo's analysis as irresponsible and lacking key details. While the FDA is proposing stricter vaccine reviews, no official recognition of vaccine-caused deaths in healthy children exists, and the broader conspiratorial elements (bioweapon leaks, global coup) are unsubstantiated.
Weinstein advances an anti-vaccine and anti-public health agenda, portraying the FDA memo as vindication for long-held skepticism toward COVID-19 vaccines and institutions. Key omissions include expert counterarguments questioning the memo's methodology and the absence of peer-reviewed evidence for causality, which downplays scientific consensus on vaccine safety. This selective framing amplifies fear and distrust, shaping perception toward conspiracy rather than nuanced regulatory debate.
Images included in the original content
A scanned or screenshot page of a formal document or memo addressed to CBER Staff, featuring typed text in black on white background, likely from an internal FDA communication discussing VAERS reports of child deaths post-vaccination.
Dear CBER Staff, I am writing to report an observation made by staff. That observation is that at least 10 children have died after receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. These children were healthy prior to vaccination. The parents of these children have filed reports with VAERS. In the past, the FDA has addressed such reports by stating that there is no evidence of a causal relationship. However, in this case, the number of reports is sufficiently large that it warrants further investigation. The children who died were between the ages of 2 and 18. The majority were boys. The deaths occurred within days to weeks after vaccination. The cause of death was myocarditis in all cases. The FDA and CDC have been aware of these reports for some time. However, they have not taken any action to investigate them. I am writing to you because I believe that this is a matter of public health importance. The FDA has a responsibility to protect the public from harm. If the COVID-19 vaccines are causing deaths in children, then the FDA must take action to stop this. I urge you to investigate these reports and to take whatever action is necessary to protect children from harm. Sincerely, Dr. [Name] There are certainly cases where vaccines have caused harm, but the FDA has a long history of downplaying these risks. For example, the rotavirus vaccine caused intussusception in infants, but the FDA did not withdraw it from the market. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, the FDA has been even more reluctant to acknowledge any risks. This is despite the fact that there have been numerous reports of serious adverse events, including deaths. The FDA's reluctance to investigate these reports is troubling. It suggests that the agency is more concerned with protecting the vaccine manufacturers than with protecting the public. I hope that you will take this matter seriously and investigate these reports.
No visible signs of editing, such as inconsistent fonts, artifacts, or digital alterations; appears to be a straightforward document capture.
Content references events and analyses from 2021-2023, aligning with recent 2025 FDA discussions on vaccine safety; matches current date context of ongoing controversies.
Document lacks specific location indicators; it's an internal memo, not tied to a physical place.
The text claims 10 child deaths linked to vaccines via VAERS, but per news sources like NPR and NYT, experts question this causality, noting VAERS reports are unverified and the memo omits rigorous evidence; no confirmed FDA recognition of vaccine-caused deaths.
Second page of a multi-page document or memo, with dense typed text discussing data analysis, risks, and criticisms of FDA processes related to vaccine safety.
The team performed an initial analysis of 96 deaths between 2021 and 2023. Of these, 10 were determined to be causally related to the vaccine. The risk of death from the vaccine is low, but it is not zero. The FDA should require that the vaccine manufacturers conduct a study to determine the true risk. Do we have data to estimate the absolute benefit to risk ratio? No. We do not have population data to estimate the health benefit to risk ratio. We do not have randomized trial data to demonstrate that the vaccines reduce disease, hospitalization, or death in children, now less symptomatic. COVID negative symptoms in children, and MIS-C are. Furthermore, and most importantly, the vaccines do not prevent transmission. Comparing number of deaths from COVID versus these 10 would be flawed. We do not know how many kids died from having vaccines. This is a volunteer system. When it comes to submitting VAERS, the submitter may be unaware. Finally, please submit the VAERS. The submission reportedly may be incomplete and finalized. Please do not. FDA fails to properly ensure post market commitments for COVID-19 vaccines. Putting facts together is ensuring a required post market commitments for COVID-19 market. Interventions may have harmed more children than saved. This humility and honesty is lacking. Why is the FDA Commissioner identify these? There is no doubt without FDA commissioners we would have performed this investigation and taken necessary action. Deaths were interrupted in 2023. I suspect and analyzed safety concerns. This action was not taken. I have no doubt that vaccines have saved lives, but I also have no doubt that the current system is broken. Other products. The unethical COVID-19 mandates in young people have had a terrible impact. Been worse. In contrast, there is no doubt that mandates have been worse. A personal case more than COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, this argument in error because one company. They get covid, and how many get vaccinated? You see? People who present health systems. You said COVID-19 and top how. Second, the demographic I am the sickest. These studies live a life denominator of 90. Studies will look at the balance. You want people this from getting. I cannot risk of this virus. This is why we have performed an empirical review. Of this CBER is leaking to the media. I have no doubt individuals who are providing the media. Unfortunately, emails and both. In the death of Dr. Hoang in her assessment. Any small differences in.
Text appears consistent with no overlays or edits; possible OCR errors in extraction but image itself shows no manipulation.
References 2021-2023 data and recent FDA actions, consistent with 2025 news on vaccine review changes.
No geographical elements present.
Claims lack of benefit-risk data and causal links are overstated; counter-evidence from sources like CNN and Reuters indicates experts view the 10-death link as unproven, with calls for more transparent data.
Third and final page of the document, continuing the discussion on FDA investigations, systemic issues, and media leaks, with text that appears fragmented or possibly OCR-imperfect.
There is no doubt without FDA commissioners we would have performed this investigation and taken necessary action. Deaths were interrupted in 2023. I suspect and analyzed safety concerns. This action was not taken. I have no doubt that vaccines have saved lives, but I also have no doubt that the current system is broken. Other products. The unethical COVID-19 mandates in young people have had a terrible impact. Been worse. In contrast, there is no doubt that mandates have been worse. A personal case more than COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, this argument in error because one company. They get covid, and how many get vaccinated? You see? People who present health systems. You said COVID-19 and top how. Second, the demographic I am the sickest. These studies live a life denominator of 90. Studies will look at the balance. You want people this from getting. I cannot risk of this virus. This is why we have performed an empirical review. Of this CBER is leaking to the media. I have no doubt individuals who are providing the media. Unfortunately, emails and both. In the death of Dr. Hoang in her assessment. Any small differences in.
No evident tampering; text continuity suggests authentic document scan.
Mentions 2023 interruptions and ongoing reviews, tying into 2025 FDA proposals.
Internal document without location specifics.
Assertions of broken systems and leaks align with reported internal FDA memo, but **omissions of expert critiques (e.g., from STAT News) undermine the narrative of proven harm**; no verification of 'Dr. Hoang' or specific leaks beyond media reports.
Biases, omissions, and misleading presentation techniques detected
Problematic phrases:
"The FDA now recognizes that the covid vaccines killed healthy children"What's actually there:
Disputed memo with no causal proof; experts call analysis irresponsible
What's implied:
Official FDA admission of vaccine-caused deaths
Impact: Misleads readers into believing vaccines directly cause deaths in low-risk groups, eroding trust in public health without evidence.
Problematic phrases:
"That’s the tip of a gigantic iceberg"What's actually there:
Memo lacks key details; consensus affirms vaccine benefits outweigh risks for children
What's implied:
Impact: Shifts perception from nuanced regulatory debate to conspiracy, suppressing balanced view of vaccine efficacy and safety data.
Problematic phrases:
"a global coup by the “public health” bureaucracy against traditional medicine"What's actually there:
Author's history of debunked claims (e.g., ivermectin); no substantiation for coup or fraud
What's implied:
Impact: Reinforces echo chamber by excluding disconfirming evidence, leading to overstated distrust in institutions.
Problematic phrases:
"killed healthy children who were in no danger from covid itself"What's actually there:
Vaccines prevented far more deaths; child COVID mortality low but not zero
What's implied:
Vaccines pose unique, outsized danger to healthy children
Impact: Inflates perceived vaccine risks by neglecting scale of benefits and overall safety profile.
Problematic phrases:
"The FDA now recognizes"What's actually there:
No official recognition; memo leaked and contested
What's implied:
Impact: Creates false sense of immediacy, prompting reactive fear rather than informed scrutiny.
Problematic phrases:
"bioweapon leaks, science fraud, regulatory capture... all lurk just below the surface"What's actually there:
Broader claims lack verification; author's track record shows pattern of unproven assertions
What's implied:
Impact: Portrays disparate critiques as interconnected systemic failure, fostering conspiracy mindset over isolated issues.
External sources consulted for this analysis
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