The New York Times was among the many media organizations in 2020 that pushed the narrative that the COVID lab leak theory was some sort of wild conspiracy being pushed by the far right.
The Energy Department's conclusion is significant because of its scientific expertise and its oversight of several national laboratories that conduct advanced biological research.
The US government's Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program has approved 19 COVID-19 vaccine injury claims, but none of the injured individuals have yet received compensation, leading to criticism from lawyers representing claimants.