FDA Blocks Publication of COVID-19 and Shingles Vaccine Safety Studies

On May 5, 2026, US News & World Report and The New York Times reported that the FDA had blocked the internal publication of government-conducted research studies that concluded widely used COVID-19 and shingles (zoster) vaccines are safe and effective. The blocked studies, completed by researchers within the federal health infrastructure, were slated for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The decision to suppress the research represents a significant departure from the agency's tradition of supporting vaccine safety surveillance and transparency, and raised concerns among public health experts about the erosion of science communication independence at FDA under the current administration. Critics warned the suppression of favorable safety data could amplify vaccine hesitancy at a time when immunization rates are already declining in some populations. The incident occurred within the broader context of the current US administration's skeptical posture toward established vaccine programs, including earlier friction over Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine application.