BMJPharmacology

FDA Blocks Publication Of Studies On Covid-19 And Shingles Vaccines

08 May 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

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Officials from the US Food and Drug Administration have blocked the publication of several studies of covid-19 and shingles vaccines conducted by the agency’s own scientists, it has emerged.Each blocked study showed the safety of widespread use of vaccines for both conditions.A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the move, first reported by the New York Times.1FDA scientists conducted the studies, in which they analysed millions of patient records, with the help of a data firm and millions in taxpayer dollars. Two covid-19 vaccine studies were accepted for publication by medical journals, but in October 2025 the authors were told to withdraw them.In February 2026 top FDA officials did not sign off two studies of Shingrix, a shingles vaccine. The abstracts required approval for submission to a conference on drug safety.When questioned by The BMJ the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees...

Clinical Editorial

Context and scope

The US FDA reportedly blocked multiple internal studies evaluating the safety of covid-19 and shingles vaccines, conducted by agency scientists.
These studies analyzed large-scale patient data with external data support and substantial taxpayer funding.

Study design and submission status

Two covid-19 vaccine safety investigations were initially accepted by medical journals, but authors were instructed to withdraw them in October 2025.
For Shingrix, a shingles vaccine, two studies did not receive final approval; the abstracts awaited clearance to submit to a drug safety conference as of February 2026.

Organizational oversight and response

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson confirmed the publication blockage, a development first reported by the New York Times.
The DHHS oversight context suggests higher-level involvement in the publication decisions, though specifics from the source are limited.

Evidence and limitations

The available content does not provide detailed methodologies, data results, risk assessments, or explicit safety conclusions from the blocked studies.