Senator Ted Cruz Retracts Misleading COVID Vaccine Miscarriage Claim After Online Outcry

Ted Cruz posted on X that newly released data proved COVID-19 vaccines led to an 82% miscarriage rate, referencing January 2021 messages from Anthony Fauci. Fauci had only voiced theoretical concerns at the time, noting that no safety issues had emerged among more than 10,000 vaccinated pregnant women. Subsequent research demonstrated a miscarriage rate of about 12.6%, consistent with the typical 10-26% background rate, a fact highlighted by a community note that flagged the original claim as misleading.

The erroneous tweet attracted over 600,000 views before it disappeared on Thursday. a journalist at one outlet reported the episode, emphasizing the danger of such misinformation, while former CDC advisory committee member Kevin Ault described the claim as an incoherent story unsupported by five years of data. The Daily Beast sought comment from Cruz but received none.