Former CDC Director Robert Redfield said recommending mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women was a mistake because the shots did not prevent infection and primarily reduced severe outcomes in older, high-risk adults. He said he has not seen conclusive evidence linking vaccination to miscarriage but criticized a lack of transparency during the pandemic. Senate Republicans released text messages they say show Dr. Anthony Fauci privately expressing concerns; Redfield also called for reconsidering liability protections for vaccine manufacturers.
Former CDC Director Says Recommending COVID mRNA Shots For Pregnant Women Was a Mistake
‘It was a mistake to vaccinate pregnant women’: Dr. Robert Redfield
Dr. Robert Redfield, who led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, said it was a mistake to recommend mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. Speaking on "Katie Pavlich Tonight," Redfield said he has not seen definitive data proving a causal link between vaccination and miscarriage but argued the policy recommendation was not justified given the vaccines' primary public-health benefit.
"I never thought we should vaccinate pregnant women. I was not in favor of that policy recommendation because the COVID vaccine did not prevent infection," Redfield said. He added that the vaccines chiefly reduced severe illness and death in older, high-risk adults, a group that does not prominently include pregnant women.
Senate Republicans have published text messages attributed to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease official during much of the pandemic. Republicans contend those messages show private concerns about risks to pregnant women while publicly endorsing vaccination. Redfield said the texts point to a lack of full transparency in public communications during the crisis and said he understands why women who miscarried after vaccination would still have questions.
Liability Protections and Ongoing Debate
The COVID-19 vaccines were deployed under emergency authorizations and manufacturers received broad legal protections against many prospective lawsuits. Redfield urged reconsideration of those liability shields, suggesting possible financial caps for claims.
What Experts Say Now
mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines use genetic instructions to prompt cells to produce a harmless piece of virus protein that triggers an immune response; they differ from many traditional vaccine platforms. Public-health agencies continue to monitor vaccine safety data. The CDC currently advises pregnant women to discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their health care provider to weigh individual risks and benefits.
This discussion reflects broader tensions between rapidly evolving science, emergency public-health decisions, and questions about how health authorities communicate uncertainties during crises. Researchers continue to study pregnancy outcomes and vaccine safety; to date, major health agencies maintain that vaccination decisions for pregnant people should be individualized in consultation with clinicians.
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