Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is preparing to take decisive action against federal health agencies over their refusal to provide unredacted records about COVID-19 vaccine safety. As the incoming chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Johnson is setting a firm deadline of December 3 for compliance before subpoenas are issued.
Johnson has accused the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of withholding crucial information, including data related to myocarditis risks in vaccine recipients. The senator expressed frustration at what he described as years of obstruction under the Biden administration.
A 2021 draft Health Alert Network (HAN) message intended to warn healthcare providers about myocarditis risks is at the center of Johnson’s demands. According to Johnson, the CDC deliberately suppressed the message following internal discussions. He is now calling for the unredacted version of the alert and related communications.
“For years, these agencies have failed to cooperate with legitimate oversight efforts,” Johnson said in his letter. “As chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will not tolerate further obstruction.”
The senator has been vocal about the need for transparency surrounding vaccine development, safety, and effectiveness. He pointed to heavily redacted documents provided by the agencies as evidence of their unwillingness to be forthcoming.
Johnson’s upcoming leadership role positions him to intensify oversight efforts. With a clear deadline and the threat of subpoenas, he has signaled that federal health agencies will face increased scrutiny in the months ahead.
