Kennedy’s Health Secretary Launches Probe Into 2,544 Unverified Military Vaccine Deaths

Key points

• Theresa Long, a board-certified aerospace medicine specialist, was detailed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to serve as Kennedy’s senior medical military adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Long is investigating 2,544 reported but unverified deaths among service members recorded in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System to determine if they were linked to COVID-19 vaccines.
• The investigation includes reviewing two military medical databases, one of which showed a sharp rise in medical conditions in 2021, a spike the Defense Department later attributed to a tabulation error.
• Long testified in a lawsuit involving former CIA doctor Terry Adirim, stating she knows of 28 people who died due to the vaccine but was restricted from sharing further details.
• Kennedy has previously described COVID vaccines as the 'most deadly vaccines in history,' a claim vaccine safety experts label as false, and has ended government recommendations for annual vaccination.
• A 2026 Pentagon report noted short-term increases in myocarditis and pericarditis cases after vaccination but found no sustained rise over a one-year period and did not mention any deaths.

Background

This investigation follows Kennedy’s broader push to scrutinize vaccine safety and pandemic-era policies, including his previous clashes with public health officials and his focus on autism links. Earlier this year, Kennedy advocated for MMR vaccinations while blaming lockdowns for measles surges, and the administration has faced scrutiny over various vaccine claims. The current probe aligns with Kennedy’s skepticism of government health data and his efforts to reform public health surveillance systems.

Why it matters

The probe could influence public trust in vaccine safety and military health policies. If findings support Kennedy’s claims, it may further erode confidence in vaccination efforts, already declining among adults. Conversely, if the investigation fails to find links, it could reinforce existing scientific consensus. The outcome may also impact future government recommendations and military health protocols.

What to watch

Long aims to complete her research within a year. The Department of Defense has not commented on the investigation but has emphasized its efforts to restore confidence in the military. The outcome of the probe could lead to changes in vaccine policies or further scrutiny of pandemic-era health data.