Full Breakdown
HHS and Defense Secretaries Task Army Doctor with Review of VAERS Death Reports
9/5/2026, 7:54:31 AM
Investigation Launched into Service-Member Deaths
The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Department of Defense, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, have appointed Lt. Col. Theresa Long, an Army physician certified in aerospace medicine, to examine 2,544 reports of deaths among U.S. service members that were entered into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) after COVID-19 vaccination. Long told a federal court in an August deposition that she was assigned as Kennedy’s senior medical military adviser and also reports to Hegseth. She said the review will cover the military’s health surveillance system and two additional medical databases, with an aim to complete the work within a year.
Background on the Military Vaccine Mandate
More than 96 % of service members received COVID-19 vaccines before the mandate was rescinded in 2022. A Pentagon report released in March 2026 found short-term increases in myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination, but noted the rise was modest compared with rates following COVID infection and was not sustained over a year. Earlier Pentagon and Department of Defense investigations, including a March 2025 report, concluded that the vaccines had not caused any service-member deaths.
Data Source and Reliability Concerns
The investigation centers on VAERS entries, a system that accepts unverified reports from anyone and does not require medical confirmation. Experts cited in the New York Times have highlighted that VAERS is the “largest but least reliable” vaccine safety database, meaning the 2,544 death reports may include cases where causality was uncertain or unrelated to vaccination.
Official Statements & Responses
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the review as part of an “intense campaign” to explore long-held concerns about vaccine safety.
- Pete Hegseth described the effort as a review of the military’s health surveillance data, emphasizing that the task force he created in May aims to assist service members affected by the former vaccine mandate.
- The Department of Defense has not provided additional comment on the investigation’s scope or timeline.
Implications and Next Steps
The review could influence future policy on vaccine requirements for military personnel and may affect the reintegration of service members who were discharged for refusing the shots. Long indicated she hopes to finish the analysis within a year, after which findings will be reported to both secretaries. No further congressional hearings or deadlines have been announced.
