A case that is already triggering intense reactions in the United States reopens the major debate surrounding mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the US Armed Forces. According to a report attributed to Politico, military physician Teresa Long is participating in an investigation regarding whether there are cases of military personnel deaths that could be chronologically or medically linked to COVID-19 vaccination. The case involves, according to the same information, more than 2,500 military death reports being examined as part of the investigation.
The statement causing a sensation
Teresa Long claimed that cases recorded after the implementation of the mandatory vaccination policy for military personnel—which was established under Joe Biden's presidency in 2021—are being reviewed. The military doctor went on to make an even more striking claim, stating that she personally knows of 28 death cases for which she considers there may be a link to vaccination. However, according to reports, she did not disclose further details regarding these specific cases. This factor is critical, as until a full medical evaluation of the records is completed, it cannot be considered proven that these specific deaths were caused by the vaccines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth in the frame
Teresa Long also mentioned that she is collaborating with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth as part of the investigation. The involvement of top officials in the US government adds significant political weight to the case, as the mandatory vaccination policy had triggered severe reactions within the Armed Forces since the pandemic period. Thousands of military personnel had requested exemptions or refused to be vaccinated, with some ultimately being removed from service.
The reversal by Donald Trump
The case assumes an even greater political dimension following Donald Trump's decision to pave the way for the return of service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. Under the relevant executive order, eligible military personnel can return to service at their previous rank, while provision is made for back pay and allowances. This move marked one of the most characteristic reversals of Joe Biden era policy regarding the pandemic and the US Armed Forces.
The big question
The critical issue now is what the examination of the thousands of cases will reveal. Investigators are tasked with determining whether among the reported deaths there are cases in which a real medical connection to vaccination can be documented, or whether these are incidents that occurred after vaccination without it being the cause. Until the results and supporting medical files are made public, reports of "vaccine deaths" remain under investigation and do not constitute a proven fact. In any case, the investigation is expected to trigger a new political and scientific debate in the United States, touching on one of the most divisive issues of the pandemic period: mandatory vaccination and its consequences for thousands of members of the US Armed Forces. The case surrounding Teresa Long assumes even larger dimensions, as her testimony did not occur in a vacuum, but within the context of a legal battle involving former CIA doctor Terry Adirim and conservative influencer Ivan Raiklin. Adirim has turned to the courts against the agency and Raiklin, arguing that she was dismissed following intense online criticism regarding her role in implementing the Joe Biden administration mandate for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in the US Armed Forces. At that time, Terry Adirim held a top position in the Health sector of the Department of Defense.
The ongoing legal battle
Federal judge Michael Nachmanoff had allowed the agency to proceed with Adirim's dismissal, but her legal dispute with Ivan Raiklin remains ongoing. It was precisely in this context that Teresa Long appeared, testifying in favor of Raiklin. And there she made one of the heaviest statements in the case. Long claimed before the court that she knew of 28 people who, in her estimation, died because of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, she did not publicly present further details about these specific cases, meaning these claims cannot, based on publicly available information, be considered proven.
Myocarditis at the center
A large part of Long's claims focuses on the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and the known risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in younger men. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle and has been recognized by health authorities as a rare adverse effect that can occur after certain mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. A 2024 study involving the FDA examined approximately 300 individuals who had presented with myocarditis following the administration of initial versions of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. The data showed that many patients improved over time, though not all to the same degree. At the same time, the FDA reinforced relevant warnings for the 2023-2024 vaccine versions. According to the reported data, the incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis during the first week post-vaccination was highest among younger men, reaching approximately 27 cases per million doses, compared to about 8 per million in the general population.
The Pentagon report
New data also came from a 2026 Pentagon report that examined the health status of active-duty service members following COVID-19 vaccination. The report found that incidents of myocarditis and pericarditis showed a short-term increase post-vaccination. However, according to the same document, this increase was not sustained over a one-year period. Of particular importance is that this specific report recorded no deaths as a result of this increase. This finding creates a critical point of contention with the claims of Teresa Long, who states that she is re-examining the data on which the report was based.
"I was skeptical too"
Teresa Long admitted in her testimony that she herself viewed the explanations regarding the data problem with skepticism. According to the transcript of the deposition, she argued that numbers from previous years had been adjusted in a way that, in her view, created the impression that the vaccine was more beneficial than the data initially indicated. However, this constitutes her personal interpretation of the data and not the final finding of an official investigation.
The assignment before retirement
Another detail raising interest is when Long's new mission began. She testified that her assignment started just 10 days prior to her scheduled retirement. She did not clarify how long she has been collaborating with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nor what the precise timeline is for completing the investigation. Thus, at this moment, two major questions remain open: whether the re-examination of military medical data will lead to new conclusions, and whether claims of deaths linked to vaccination can ultimately be substantiated with medical and scientific evidence.
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