Voices for Vaccines is reporting that critics on platforms like TikTok and in the New York Post claim Dr. Anthony Fauci knew COVID-19 might have originated in a lab, hid U.S.-funded research in Wuhan, exaggerated the virus's danger, and pushed vaccine rules despite the shots not always stopping viral spread. They suggest Fauci's act of pleading the Fifth Amendment confirmed these allegations. Voices for Vaccines said evidence largely points to an animal source for COVID-19, with scientists finding no clear signs of lab creation and early cases linked to a live animal market. It noted that initial vaccine approval focused on safety and preventing illness, not necessarily stopping transmission, but later studies found vaccinated individuals were contagious for about half as long and infected nearly 25% fewer people.
Regarding claims by RFK Jr., Voices for Vaccines said he suggested measles outbreaks primarily occur in religious groups, that the MMR vaccine's effectiveness wanes, and that COVID-19 vaccines do not benefit children. Voices for Vaccines stated that measles is highly contagious and that two doses of the vaccine offer strong protection, with about 93% of measles cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccine status. It also said numerous studies demonstrate the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
Addressing the claim that COVID-19 vaccines caused Dr. Fauci's pulmonary infarction, Voices for Vaccines reported that anti-vaccine activists, including RFK Jr., made this assertion after Fauci's diary mentioned the condition. Voices for Vaccines clarified that Fauci's diary described a pulmonary infarction in June 2021, months after his December 2020 vaccination, but did not specify the cause. It emphasized that pulmonary infarction is not a known side effect of the Moderna vaccine, and large studies have not found an increased risk of lung blood clots after Moderna vaccination. It added that a 2024 review found insufficient evidence to link Moderna vaccination to blood clots, and studies did not indicate a higher risk of lung blood clots.