Fauci's Private Texts Reveal Early Theoretical Concerns Over COVID Vaccine and First-Trimester Miscarriage Risk, Contrasting Public 'No Red Flags' Messaging

Newly released text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci's government-issued phone, disclosed August 10, 2026, by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), show internal discussions among top health officials about potential COVID-19 vaccine risks in pregnancy. In a January 25, 2021, exchange with Dr. Vivek Murthy and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Fauci initially stated there was 'no data or theoretical reason' to prefer early or late vaccination in pregnancy. He later added a caveat: fever and cytokine storm after the second dose 'theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.' Walensky replied that it was 'definitely a good point, [especially] after dose two.'

These private exchanges occurred amid limited early data on mRNA vaccines in pregnant populations, with officials also expressing concern over WHO statements against Moderna use in pregnancy and the need to maintain public confidence. Just nine days later, on February 3, 2021, Fauci publicly told a JAMA livestream audience that FDA monitoring had found 'thus far no red flags' regarding pregnant women. By August 2021, as White House chief medical adviser, he stated there was 'no indication whatsoever' of increased adverse issues and that vaccination for pregnant women was 'pretty clear.'

The texts, part of over 34,000 messages recovered by HHS and provided to Senate investigators, highlight discrepancies between contemporaneous internal deliberations on theoretical risks and contemporaneous public communications emphasizing safety. Multiple outlets, including CBS News, CNN, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, confirm the authenticity of the released chain and its timing during the initial vaccine rollout when pregnancy-specific data remained sparse. Senate Republicans framed the release as relevant to informed consent, noting the volume of remaining messages under review.

This episode underscores broader questions about how evolving scientific uncertainties are conveyed to the public, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant individuals, where risk-benefit assessments involve both viral infection risks and vaccine side effects.