False claims about miscarriage risk from Covid-19 vaccines are spreading online. They use a faulty interpretation of data

A new wave of misinformation is hitting social media following the release of text messages belonging to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Republican Senators Ron Johnson and Rand Paul published the private correspondence as part of a probe into the former health official's pandemic management.

The messages, which mention theoretical risks discussed in early 2021, have sparked claims that the vaccines carry an 82% risk of miscarriage. High-profile figures, including Senator Ted Cruz, amplified these figures before some posts were later removed.

Where the Numbers Went Wrong

The 82% figure stems from a flawed interpretation of a 2021 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. While the study initially tracked 827 completed pregnancies, critics manipulated the data by excluding hundreds of women who were vaccinated in their third trimester.

By shrinking the group of participants to only those in early pregnancy, critics created a false mathematical outcome. Experts note that the actual miscarriage rate in the study was roughly 12.6%, which aligns perfectly with the natural average of 10% to 20% seen in the general population.

Medical Experts Stand by Safety

Dr. Kevin Ault of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases told CNN that with five years of data now available, it is impossible that such a massive spike in miscarriages would have gone unnoticed. "This is a well-studied area," Ault noted, emphasizing that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

The CDC and various medical societies continue to recommend the vaccine for expectant mothers. They point out that catching Covid-19 while pregnant is significantly more dangerous, often leading to ICU stays, stillbirths, and maternal deaths.

Dr. Brenna Hughes, representing the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, warns that this resurfacing of bad data makes patients unsure of who to trust. She maintains that the global literature includes hundreds of thousands of women and proves that vaccination protects both the mother and the infant.