Text messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government-issued phone offer insight into how top U.S. health officials privately discussed COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy when limited data was available. Released by Republican Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul, these messages depict conversations among Fauci, then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and then-CDC Director Rochelle Walensky in January 2021, weeks after the first vaccines became available.
Among the highlighted exchanges is Fauci’s remark about the theoretical risk of miscarriage in the first trimester due to fever and immune responses following vaccination. Despite this concern, Fauci and other officials acknowledged the absence of evidence showing safety problems among vaccinated pregnant women and stressed ongoing data collection efforts.
The timing of this disclosure aligns with intensified investigations into Fauci’s handling of the pandemic, including the release of over 1,000 pages of his COVID-era diaries. In a contentious Senate hearing, Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment numerous times, and a Senate committee voted to hold him in contempt of Congress.
What the Texts Show
The conversation began when Murthy asked if any evidence suggested pregnant women should receive COVID-19 vaccines at specific stages of pregnancy. Walensky noted that the data was sparse but mentioned the CDC’s pregnancy registry for monitoring outcomes. Fauci agreed, citing public concerns about mRNA vaccines and the theoretical risk of miscarriage, though no direct evidence showed harm.
In a separate exchange, officials discussed the World Health Organization’s caution against Moderna’s vaccine for pregnant women. Fauci highlighted the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 during pregnancy and the absence of safety concerns among over 10,000 vaccinated pregnant women. He referenced animal studies and support from U.S. health authorities and major obstetrics organizations for allowing pregnant women vaccination choice in consultation with their doctors.
Johnson and Paul claim the phone contains over 34,000 text messages and 522 voicemails. Newsweek contacted Fauci and the offices of Paul, Johnson, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for comments.
Why the Release Matters
Johnson and Paul argue these texts bring up questions about what health officials knew and how they communicated risks. Highlighting Fauci’s mention of a theoretical miscarriage risk, they compared it to later public statements encouraging vaccination during pregnancy.
The release includes examples where Fauci, Walensky, and Murthy emphasized that evidence did not show increased risks for pregnant women and stated that the vaccination benefits outweighed potential risks. By July 2021, the CDC and major obstetrics organizations recommended vaccination after reviews showed more safety data.
The CDC officially endorsed vaccination for pregnant women in 2021 after analyzing additional safety data. ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine later issued similar recommendations. Under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration adjusted its stance on routine federal vaccination recommendations during pregnancy.
How This Fits Into the Broader Fauci Investigation
The text release is part of a broader initiative by Paul and Johnson to examine Fauci’s actions during the pandemic. Paul released over 1,000 pages of Fauci’s diaries, documenting discussions on COVID-19 origins, government response disagreements, and public messaging concerns.
Highlighted entries reveal early debates about the virus’s origins and frustrations with government responses, echoing uncertainty and debates Fauci publicly acknowledged.
Paul argues Fauci misled Congress and the public regarding COVID-19 origins and U.S.-supported research in China, allegations Fauci denies.
Why Fauci Pleaded the Fifth
The text release follows a Senate vote to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after his refusal to answer questions during a July hearing. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, asserting potential legal risks due to Paul’s calls for his prosecution.
Paul claims Fauci should not use the Fifth Amendment because former President Joe Biden granted a preemptive pardon covering potential federal offenses tied to Fauci’s government service from 2014 to January 2025. Paul argues this pardon removes federal prosecution risks.
Fauci’s supporters argue the pardon does not prevent future perjury charges or legal exposure, validating the use of the Fifth Amendment. Legal experts’ opinions differ on this issue.
What Comes Next
Johnson and Paul suggest more material from Fauci’s phone might be released after staff review the device’s contents. They assert the records encompass thousands of messages and hundreds of voicemails.
Newsweek editors involved in this story include Edward T. Cummins.
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