Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 4
Kennedy Hires Army Doctor to Probe 2,500 Troop Covid Vaccine Death Claims
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 4

Kennedy Hires Army Doctor to Probe 2,500 Troop Covid Vaccine Death Claims

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 4

Summary

  • HHS has hired Lt. Col. Theresa Long, an Army doctor who has questioned Covid vaccine safety, to investigate claims that more than 2,500 U.S. service members died after vaccination.
  • Long said in an Aug. 14 deposition that she serves as a senior military medical adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and also reports to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • Pentagon reports from March 2026 and July 2025 found no deaths linked to the vaccines, despite more than 96% of service members having received Covid shots before the mandate was rescinded.
  • Billions of doses have been given worldwide, and research has found vaccine deaths to be exceedingly rare, underscoring how far Kennedy's inquiry departs from established evidence.

Insights

Why is the government launching a new military vaccine probe based on unverified data when recent Pentagon studies found no linked deaths?
Could relying on raw crowdsourced data to shape military health policies ultimately threaten troop readiness and response capabilities?
How will the controversial push to access private state medical records for this vaccine investigation impact patient privacy across the country?