In the wake of the memo, several vaccine experts responded that the CBER director's claim about the deaths requires more scrutiny. In a disclaimer on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) website, the HHS notes that the data alone "cannot be used to determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse event or illness."

Vinay Prasad, a top FDA official, blamed COVID shots for playing a role in the deaths of 10 children in a memo he sent to agency staff.