A recent undercover investigation conducted by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) has brought to light startling admissions from Joshua Rys, a Lead Scientist in Regulatory Affairs at Johnson & Johnson (J&J). Captured on hidden camera, Rys disclosed that J&J circumvented traditional clinical testing procedures during the rush to develop its COVID-19 vaccine.
The footage, dated July 16, 2025, reveals Rys discussing how the vaccine was tested on lab models rather than undergoing the usual clinical trial phases before being distributed to the public. He is quoted as saying, “We didn’t do the typical tests,” and later added, "This was just, ‘let’s test it on some lab models… and just throw it to the wind and see what happens.’”
These revelations come as a surprise, especially given the widespread messaging from health authorities that the vaccines were thoroughly vetted and deemed “safe and effective.” Rys’s comments suggest a discrepancy between public assurances and the actual testing process, stating, “There’s no proof. None of that stuff was safe and effective.”
The urgency to develop a vaccine was in part due to the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, which aimed to expedite vaccine production and distribution. According to Rys, the government's plea for assistance created a high-pressure scenario in which companies like J&J felt compelled to deliver a solution swiftly.
In response to the leaked conversation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has defended the vaccine oversight process. They maintain that, even under a public health emergency, pharmaceutical companies must adhere to stringent clinical testing protocols. An HHS spokesperson assured that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies continue to monitor products closely post-approval through various safety tracking measures and mandatory adverse event reporting.
Despite these assurances, Rys’s candid statements have intensified concerns over whether the emergency protocols compromised the integrity of the vaccine development process. His remarks imply that decisions may have been made without the full extent of research and risk assessment that is standard in drug development.
Amidst growing public scrutiny regarding vaccine safety and transparency, two prominent physicians, Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Vinay Prasad of the University of California, San Francisco, have introduced a new framework aimed at reinforcing public trust. This framework emphasizes rigorous testing, real-world data, and transparent communication, ensuring that future vaccines are subject to meticulous scrutiny before and after market release.
This incident has not only sparked conversations about the COVID-19 vaccine development but also about the broader implications for public trust in healthcare. The full confrontation between Rys and James O'Keefe, the founder of OMG, can be viewed online, where Rys is seen fleeing into a women's restroom when questioned about his admissions.
