For years, families have demanded clarity on the sudden, unexplained deaths of healthy children after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an “intense investigation” into these cases, as Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary acknowledged the government’s data can no longer be ignored.

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Makary confirmed the FDA is reviewing autopsy reports, interviewing families, and analyzing records from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which lists 202 child deaths following COVID vaccination. Experts suggest the true number could be significantly higher due to chronic underreporting, a flaw the FDA now admits exists.

The probe follows years of resistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which Makary said obstructed data access. “Since we came into office, early on in the first few months, we got blocked,” he revealed, citing leadership figures who resigned from the CDC.

VAERS, the government’s own reporting system, is criticized for its low reporting rate—less than 1% of adverse events are documented, according to a 2011 Harvard study. A 2022 audit found one in three COVID vaccine injury reports were hidden or deleted. Analyst Albert Benavides, founder of VAERSAware.com, noted many child deaths may be categorized under “unknown” age groups, with summaries showing three times more fatalities than official counts.

The FDA’s probe follows pressure from medical professionals and advocacy groups. Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist critical of vaccine mandates, called the investigation “very late” and urged an immediate halt to vaccinations until results are released. Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, welcomed the move but questioned why it took so long.

The FDA’s decision to end emergency use authorization for COVID vaccines, restricting them to high-risk individuals, signals growing skepticism about their universal necessity. Makary highlighted that 85% of healthcare workers skipped last year’s booster, reflecting waning confidence among medical professionals.

The investigation raises questions about suppressed information. Parents have shared accounts of children dying shortly after vaccination, only to face dismissal from public health officials. In one case, a 7-year-old girl died five days after her first shot, with her death certificate citing “complications from coronavirus infection” without mentioning the vaccine.

The FDA plans to release findings soon, but families and the public await answers after years of delays and broken trust.