GOP Reps, Sen. Cruz Demand High Standards Before FDA Considers COVID Vax for 6mo & Up

Reps. Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Bill Posey (FL-08) and Jeff Duncan (SC-03), were joined by Sen. Ted Cruz and thirteen other Republican Members in a letter to the FDA and CDC demanding the FDA set an extremely high safety and efficacy standard before considering granting Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) status to Pfizer and Moderna for use of the COVID vaccine in children 6 months of age and older.  The letter also expresses the Members’ concerns over the increase in myocarditis cases in vaccinated children and young adults and considers that the COVID-19 vaccine may pose more risk than benefit to healthy children, who have a 99.995 percent survival rate against the virus.

Please find the letter to the FDA HERE.

Co-signers: Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Rep. Bill Posey (FL-08), Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Sen. Ted Cruz (TX), Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05), Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-06), Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04), Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05), Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Rep. David B. McKinley (WV-01), Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14), Rep. Mary E. Miller (IL-15), Rep. Bob Good (VA-05), Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)

Member Quotes:

“The CDC, FDA and some major pharmaceutical companies are apparently willing to mandate risking young children’s lives because of billions of dollars in financial rewards to these companies without liability for any harm done to children. The COVID shot was rushed into production and its emergency approval hastily granted while its long-term side-effects are completely unknown. Using real statistics rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, there is a zero point zero percent chance of children dying from COVID-19.

“Though Dr. Anthony Fauci recently said, ‘We’re certainly right now in this country out of the pandemic stage,’ he continues to push for vaccines under emergency use. Dr. Fauci’s struggle with truth aside, the real test is whether or not big pharmaceutical companies will continue to push for vaccinations of our youngest, most innocent children if they were held personally liable for the damages from adverse effects.

“One harsh fact stands: there has been a stunning increase in myocarditis cases, especially in young, healthy children, since this shot began to be administered. The COVID vaccination’s long-term risk to children could be catastrophic, while the statistical risk-to-reward does not justify vaccinating children.”
-Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01)

“Congress has a duty to ask thorough questions of federal agencies, especially when it involves important health decisions that impact the lives and health of America’s most precious lives – our youngest children. Our letter asks the questions that parents say the FDA and CDC have failed to give them answers to – What are the real risks and benefits? What are the risks from these vaccines that are just coming to light? Are these vaccines really necessary for children who are least at risk and have a 99.995% survival rate particularly when FDA and CDC have no long-term safety data?” – Rep. Bill Posey (FL-08)

 “Given that children are at an extremely low risk for serious adverse complications from COVID-19, I fear rushing to develop mRNA vaccines for small children could cause more harm than good on their developing bodies, given the lack of experimentation and rushed nature of the approval process. We should proceed with extreme caution when it comes to developing vaccines, especially for children, our youngest and most vulnerable.”- Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)

"Studies tell us 99.9% of children with a positive COVID-19 test survived, yet the CDC is pushing ahead to vaccinate children as young as 6 months. All the while, there is growing evidence of increased risk, questionable safety and debated effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for children. The FDA and CDC must clarify these unanswered questions before they continue their aggressive vaccination push for our youngest Americans." - Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17)

“Every parent should be worried when they see vaccine manufacturers pushing for emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccinates for kids under the age of 6 without conducting rigorous scientific studies to assure these vaccines are safe for kids. The FDA should be protecting children from medical harm – not turning our kids into COVID-19 test subjects.”- Sen. Ted Cruz (TX)