A Senate committee released text messages on August 10, 2026, showing Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed a theoretical concern regarding the association between fever and other reactions after a second COVID-19 vaccine dose and miscarriage in the first trimester. The messages, obtained from Fauci's government-issued cellphone, date back to January 2021. In the texts, Fauci noted that such reactions "theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester."
Senator Rand Paul criticized Fauci on social media, stating that he was inconsistent in his public and private statements regarding vaccine safety. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also expressed concerns, accusing Fauci of withholding information that could have endangered pregnant women. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene called for Fauci's arrest, alleging he knowingly put women at risk.
Fauci had previously stated that there were no data suggesting that vaccination earlier in pregnancy should be preferred over later vaccination and noted that over 10,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated without reported issues. Dr. Vivek Murthy, who participated in the conversation, highlighted a World Health Organization recommendation against Moderna's vaccine for pregnant women due to limited data, cautioning that strong recommendations against vaccination could harm public confidence among pregnant women.