Pfizer-BioNTech did not disclose the deaths of two participants in its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials before the FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) in December 2020. Documents released nearly three years later revealed the deaths of a 63-year-old Kansas woman and a 58-year-old Georgia woman, both classified as “sudden cardiac death.” Researchers have criticized Pfizer for failing to report these incidents within the required 24-hour timeframe, with one case taking 37 days to be filed.

Dr. Jeyanthi Kunadhasan, an Australian anesthesiologist and researcher with the watchdog group Daily Clout, called for an investigation by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. She raised concerns that withholding this information may have impacted the perception of the vaccine’s safety profile.

Watch the full interview below, where Dr. Malhotra discusses his findings, the need for an investigation, and the importance of fostering a culture of openness in public health: