Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is urging the Trump administration to formally recognize COVID-19 vaccine injuries through the creation of a medical classification code, arguing that patients reporting adverse reactions have struggled to obtain treatment and insurance reimbursement for years, as reported by Just The News.

Johnson made the remarks during an interview on the John Solomon Reports podcast on Monday, where he called on the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code specifically for COVID-19 vaccine injuries.

“Trump's [Department of Health and Human Services] has to acknowledge that these injection injuries are real. They've got to create an ICD code so the doctors can get reimbursed,” Johnson said.

ICD codes, which are published by the World Health Organization, are used throughout the medical system to classify diseases, injuries, and causes of death. Insurance companies rely on the codes when determining whether medical treatments qualify for reimbursement, while health systems use them to track illnesses and allocate resources.

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Johnson said he has met with patients who have spent years attempting to obtain recognition and treatment for what they believe are vaccine-related injuries.

The senator’s request comes as the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations continues examining COVID-19 vaccine safety data.

Johnson, who chairs the subcommittee, said investigators have reviewed millions of pages of records related to vaccine surveillance systems.

The panel has held multiple hearings this year, including a June 3 hearing titled “Plausible Mechanisms of COVID-19 Injections Causing Cancer and Attacks on Scientific Publications.”

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An earlier hearing in April, titled “Unmasked: How Biden Health Officials Purposely Turned a Blind Eye Toward COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Signals,” focused on federal vaccine monitoring practices.

Johnson has argued that federal regulators failed to properly investigate warning signs that appeared in adverse event reporting databases during the vaccine rollout.

During the podcast interview, Johnson questioned how vaccine safety information was handled by federal agencies following the Emergency Use Authorizations issued for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in late 2020.

“These are not vaccines," he said. "These things, mRNA, used to be classified as gene therapy because they are gene therapy.”

Johnson said the Food and Drug Administration quickly received reports of deaths and serious adverse events after the vaccines were authorized and pointed to testimony and records reviewed by his subcommittee.

According to Johnson, FDA biostatistician Dr. Ana Szarfman warned agency officials in March 2021 that a data-analysis system used to monitor adverse events could be masking potential safety signals.

Johnson said another review later identified numerous serious adverse events that warranted further scrutiny.

He also cited allegations discussed during Senate hearings that internal FDA analyses were not adequately shared or acted upon.

“To this day, we believe they're still using that exact same algorithm, because it's hiding all these serious safety signals,” Johnson said.

“This is why I say this is the biggest government scandal in my lifetime, because had people known, had doctors been made aware, had the news big media been made aware, members of Congress been made aware, would we push the shot on everybody?”

Johnson further stated that approximately 39,000 deaths and 1.7 million adverse event reports had been entered into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System worldwide and argued that regulators should have more closely examined those reports.

He also criticized the Biden administration’s vaccine policies and argued that federal officials moved too quickly to fully approve the vaccines and implement mandates.

“Boy, you got to get your child vaccinated, otherwise they're going to transmit it to their grandparents, of course,” Johnson said. “Then we found out later that the vaccine didn't stop transmission.”

Johnson additionally referenced testimony concerning possible links between COVID-19 vaccines and cancer.

He criticized testimony from Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, who appeared before the subcommittee.

Gralow testified that “RNA breaks down quickly in the body and doesn't enter a person's DNA.”

The Democrats' medical expert witnesses claim that the COVID injection is safe and effective — yet they don't understand how it works. - It was modified NOT to degrade. - It has been shown to circulate in the body for 700 days after injection. How can they assure the American… pic.twitter.com/EMuT1xcv7T

— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) June 4, 2026

The American Medical Association continues to maintain that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

The organization states that physicians should advise patients about potential side effects, including lethargy, mild fever, and body aches, while noting that such reactions can indicate the body is developing immunity.

Johnson said additional records should be released to the public and argued that those responsible for any misconduct related to vaccine safety oversight should be held accountable.

He also said more transparency is needed so that the public can independently evaluate the evidence gathered through the Senate investigation.

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