FDA blocking research findings ‘has no place in a democratic society,’ expert says

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FDA blocking research findings 'has no place in a democratic society,' expert says

Northwestern scientists can speak about FDA's withdrawal of COVID-19, shingles vaccine research

CHICAGO --- Northwestern University scientists are available to speak to media about reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked the publication of publicly funded research that found COVID-19 and shingles vaccines are safe.

"Withholding important information that would result in improved health has no place in a democratic society," said Dr. Robert Murphy, executive director of the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Contact Kristin Samuelson at [email protected] to schedule an interview with Dr. Murphy.

Northwestern biological anthropologist Thom McDade, who was heavily involved in antibody testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, also is available for interviews with the media."There were two COVID-19 pandemics - one before the rollout of vaccines, and one after," said McDade, Carlos Montezuma Professor of anthropology and faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research. "Fewer than 1 in 100,000 vaccinated adults died from COVID-19 in 2021, while risk of death for the unvaccinated was more than 10 times greater. COVID-19 vaccines generated robust immune responses that provided protection against infection, and especially severe and potentially fatal infection."

Professor McDade can be reached by contacting Stephanie Kulke at [email protected].