Newly released text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reveal private discussions in early 2021 about the potential risks of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. The messages, published by Republican senators as part of their investigation, show Fauci speculating that the second vaccine dose 'theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.'
These revelations have prompted women to share deeply personal stories of miscarriages that occurred during the pandemic, with some connecting their experiences to receiving COVID-19 vaccines. The texts do not state that the vaccine directly causes miscarriages or show Fauci asserting this conclusion.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has maintained that the COVID-19 vaccine has not been linked to increased health risks for pregnant women or their babies. As of February 2026, the CDC states: 'COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has not been linked to increased health risks for pregnant women or babies. It helps reduce the risk for severe illness from COVID-19.'
Public figures and individuals have responded strongly to the release of the texts. Meghan McCain shared her own experience of a miscarriage during the pandemic and called for Fauci to face prosecution. Billionaire Bill Ackman revealed that his wife, Neri Oxman, experienced seven miscarriages during the pandemic period.
Social media platforms saw an influx of similar accounts. One user, Roxy, recounted a miscarriage at 12 weeks, occurring five days after receiving a booster shot. Another individual shared that their daughter experienced two first-trimester miscarriages after receiving the initial vaccine doses required for her job, with a third pregnancy resulting in a healthy baby in 2025. A user named Martha expressed suspicion that her friend's miscarriage might have been related to the vaccine, noting that the friend received it early on amid mass promotion.
Men also came forward to share their wives' experiences. Dan Karpuc wrote that his wife had a miscarriage after receiving vaccines necessary for employment in healthcare.
Some individuals who had successful pregnancies while pregnant during the pandemic also expressed frustration over perceived a lack of transparency. Lindsey Brown, an anchor, stated she felt pressure to get vaccinated while pregnant after two previous miscarriages but ultimately trusted her instincts and skipped the second dose, resulting in a healthy birth. She emphasized that her point was not to prove the vaccine caused miscarriages but that pregnant women deserved access to all expert discussions about potential uncertainties.
Journalist Peter J Hasson recounted that his wife, then pregnant, was advised by her medical school instructors that forgoing the vaccine was reasonable after prior infection, yet she faced challenges with clinical rotations due to her unvaccinated status. Hasson expressed anger that Fauci privately held similar concerns.
The text messages were part of a series released by Republican Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, stemming from January 25-26, 2021. The conversation included former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. In one exchange, Murthy inquired about a WHO advisory against pregnant women receiving the Moderna vaccine due to a lack of data, asking for Fauci's perspective.
Fauci responded that pregnant women should weigh potential risks against the benefits of vaccination versus contracting COVID-19 itself, noting that animal studies had not shown red flags. Murthy then commented that the WHO statement was significant and potentially damaging to public confidence among pregnant women.
The senators indicated that Fauci's phone contained over 34,000 text messages and 522 voicemails, raising questions about potentially deleted data due to only three listed contacts. Johnson has requested further interviews with Fauci and FDA officials regarding vaccine safety monitoring systems.