John Roberts, co-anchor of Fox News’ “America Reports” and a longtime network correspondent, stated during a recent on-air interview that a COVID-19 vaccination led to severe health issues for him.
In the interview, Roberts said he received a total of four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. He described developing pericarditis — or inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart — after the third dose, which is commonly referred to as the first booster.
“I remember when I got the boosters, I developed pericarditis, and then that went away. Then, when I had the second booster, it came roaring back again. So, you know, the body reacts differently to these things depending on who you are,” he said.
Pericarditis involves inflammation that can cause chest pain and other symptoms. Roberts indicated the initial episode resolved before recurring more strongly after the subsequent dose.
🚨NEW: Fox News’ John Roberts says he developed pericarditis after his third COVID shot and that it worsened after his fourth shot.pic.twitter.com/fT3AsjCJuG
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 12, 2026
Roberts has a documented history of other cardiac issues. In early 2022, he underwent a procedure that included implantation of a pacemaker after experiencing problems that included a previously placed stent that had become blocked again. He publicly described becoming “battery powered” following the implantation and noted he had not been feeling well for a period beforehand.
In later updates, Roberts has referenced atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm. In a 2024 post, he described seeking treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for “the intractable AFib that has plagued me since that whole ‘COVID thing.’” He later reported undergoing ablation and experiencing no further episodes in the following year.
Earlier in the pandemic, Roberts expressed support for vaccination. In 2021, after deleting a tweet that questioned long-term vaccine efficacy in the context of Colin Powell’s death from COVID-19 complications, Roberts clarified that he had been vaccinated, had participated in a public service announcement encouraging vaccination, and planned to receive a booster. He has noted dealing with long COVID symptoms at one point and cited that as a reason for receiving a booster.
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