The following is from Just the News.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), soon to lead the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, has criticized the US vaccine safety system as failing due to conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency. Johnson argues that federal agencies, like the FDA and CDC, have been “captured” by corporate interests, resulting in safety systems that inadequately protect Americans. He cites a pre-COVID Harvard study that found only 1% of vaccine side effects are reported to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS).
“The best solution for this is actually to make these products safer and do real science to determine whether there are certain conditions that make you more vulnerable.“
— Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairman-elect, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Johnson expressed concern over the outsized influence of pharmaceutical companies, which he says fund their own safety studies, control trial data, and offer lucrative jobs to regulators. “When you pay for science, you get the result you want,” he said, emphasizing the need for independent oversight and transparency in vaccine safety.
The senator pointed to what he calls a “disturbing” case of corruption: the FDA’s attempt to shield Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial data for 75 years. “The federal agencies went to bat for them,” Johnson said, calling for a system where such critical information is made public immediately.
Johnson has sent formal letters to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the FDA, and the CDC, demanding the preservation of all records related to COVID-19 vaccine development, safety, and efficacy. These letters accuse the agencies of withholding critical information, applying heavy redactions, and failing to fully cooperate with oversight efforts. Johnson plans to use subpoena power to compel the release of unredacted records, emphasizing the need for transparency to rebuild public trust.
“We’ve pretty well been given the middle finger. For the last four years, I have not had subpoena power, so I can’t compel testimony, and the federal agencies know that, and so they just completely ignore Congress, which means they completely ignore the American people. That’s a recurring theme.”
— Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairman-elect, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Johnson also supports reforming the liability protections for vaccine manufacturers, suggesting a middle ground between total immunity and accountability for harm caused. He argues that “real science” and transparency are needed to ensure the safety of vaccines and restore public trust.
Sen. Johnson plans to work with the incoming Trump administration to push for sweeping reforms to vaccine testing and liability protections. He expressed hope that the right leadership will prioritize accountability and ensure agencies release withheld information. Johnson views this as a critical step toward restoring trust in vaccine safety and government oversight.
Read Sen. Johnson’s letter to HHS, FDA, and CDC here.
For more details, read full article here.
