The Trump administration censored FDA vaccine research after agency scientists found benefits from COVID-19 and shingles vaccines, according to the New York Times. FDA officials prevented scientists from submitting two abstracts about Shingrix, a GSK-manufactured shingles vaccine, to a major drug safety conference. The studies reportedly supported existing efficacy and safety data for both vaccines.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon claimed the COVID studies were pulled because authors "drew broad conclusions that were not supported by the underlying data." He said the FDA "acted to protect the integrity of its scientific process." For the Shingrix efficacy study, Nixon said "the design fell outside the agency's purview," though he did not explain why the safety study was withheld.

This incident adds to growing concerns about political interference in federal health agency research during the pandemic. The administration has previously faced accusations of suppressing scientific data that contradicted official positions.