Fox News anchor John Roberts revealed that he developed pericarditis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster and said the condition returned after he received another dose.
Roberts, co-anchor of Fox News’ “America Reports,” discussed his experience during a recent on-air conversation, saying his heart condition first appeared after his third COVID vaccine dose.
“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.
Roberts said he ultimately received four COVID vaccine doses, meaning the first episode occurred after his third shot, which served as his first booster.
“So, you know, the body reacts differently to these things depending on who you are,” Roberts added.
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac surrounding the heart. The condition can cause sharp chest pain and other symptoms that can sometimes resemble those associated with other cardiovascular problems.
Roberts said the first bout eventually subsided before returning following his fourth COVID vaccine dose.
The veteran Fox News journalist has previously spoken publicly about several other heart-related health issues.
In early 2022, Roberts underwent a cardiac procedure that resulted in doctors implanting a pacemaker after he experienced complications involving a previously implanted stent and other heart problems.
Following the procedure, Roberts joked that he had become “battery powered.”
Roberts has also battled atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, which causes an irregular and sometimes rapid heartbeat.
In a 2024 social media post, Roberts said he had been receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for what he described as “the intractable AFib that has plagued me since that whole ‘COVID thing.’”
He later underwent a cardiac ablation procedure and reported that the treatment successfully stopped his AFib episodes.
“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 specifically tied the timing of his pericarditis episodes to his booster shots, though he did not claim that every cardiovascular problem he has experienced was caused by the vaccines.
His disclosure comes years after Roberts publicly defended his decision to receive the COVID vaccine.
In 2021, Roberts drew criticism after questioning the vaccines’ long-term effectiveness following the death of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Roberts subsequently rejected suggestions that he was opposed to vaccination, noting that he had received the vaccine himself, participated in a public service announcement encouraging vaccination and intended to receive a booster, per the Conservative Brief.
He has also previously discussed symptoms he associated with long COVID and cited those concerns when explaining his decision to receive another vaccine dose.
Roberts said his experience demonstrated that individuals can react differently to vaccination.
“The body reacts differently to these things,” he said, “depending on who you are,” Roberts said.
