A longtime Fox News anchor is opening up about a serious health problem he says emerged after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster and then returned after an additional dose.
John Roberts, co-anchor of Fox News’ “America Reports,” said during a recent on-air discussion that he developed pericarditis following his third COVID vaccine dose and experienced another bout after receiving a fourth shot.
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“I remember when I got the boosters, I developed pericarditis, and then that went away,” Roberts said.
“Then, when I had the second booster, it came roaring back again,” he continued.
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“So, you know, the body reacts differently to these things depending on who you are,” Roberts added.
Roberts said he received four COVID vaccine doses in total. According to his account, the first episode of pericarditis occurred after his third shot, generally considered his first booster.
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Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac surrounding the heart. Symptoms can include sharp chest pain, which can sometimes resemble symptoms associated with other cardiovascular conditions.
Roberts said the initial episode eventually subsided. But after receiving another booster, he said the condition returned with significant intensity.
His disclosure is notable because Roberts has previously discussed a complicated history of cardiovascular problems that extends beyond his recent account involving pericarditis.
In early 2022, Roberts underwent a cardiac procedure that resulted in doctors implanting a pacemaker after he experienced additional heart problems, including complications involving a previously implanted stent.
Following the procedure, Roberts joked that he was now “battery powered” and acknowledged that he had not been feeling well before seeking treatment.
The veteran journalist has also publicly discussed his struggles with atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, a condition involving an irregular and sometimes rapid heartbeat.
In a 2024 social media post, Roberts said he was receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for “the intractable AFib that has plagued me since that whole ‘COVID thing.’”
He subsequently underwent a cardiac ablation procedure and later reported that the treatment had been successful.
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“One year ago today, I underwent ablation for the intractable AFib that has plagued me since that whole ‘COVID thing,’” Roberts wrote in a later update.
“Happy to report not a single episode since,” he added.
Roberts’ latest comments add another chapter to his public discussion of COVID vaccination and his health.
Earlier in the pandemic, Roberts was outspoken about having received the vaccine. After drawing controversy over a 2021 social media post questioning the vaccines’ long-term effectiveness following the death of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Roberts rejected suggestions that he was opposed to vaccination.
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He said at the time that he had been vaccinated, had participated in a public service announcement encouraging vaccination and planned to receive a booster.
🚨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 also previously discussed experiencing symptoms he associated with long COVID and cited those health concerns when explaining his decision to receive another vaccine dose.
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His latest account does not establish that all of the cardiovascular problems he has experienced were caused by COVID vaccination, particularly given his separate history of heart disease. Roberts did, however, specifically connect the timing of his pericarditis episodes to his booster doses.
For Roberts, the experience underscored what he described as the highly individual nature of reactions to vaccination.
“The body reacts differently to these things,” Roberts said, “depending on who you are.”
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
