Was CDC decision on COVID vaccine study political or protective?
The CDC is facing criticism for withholding a study on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, which was later published by JAMA. While the CDC cited methodological concerns, critics argue the decision to suppress the findings was politically motivated.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about transparency and the potential influence of political considerations on public health research dissemination.
See More Deseret News Stories In Search View 9 Comments Share Lia Smith, a registered nurse assistant, prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, where those 70 and older are receiving the vaccination. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News By Lois M. Collins Lois is a longtime Deseret News special projects and family issues reporter, including health, parenting, aging and policy. Your browser does not support the audio element. Play audio NEW: Try Article Audio NEW: Try Article Audio Audio quality: | Skip back 15 seconds Play audio Skip forward 15 seconds 00:00 00:00 Decrease playback rate 1.0 x Increase playback rate 00:00 / 00:00 Skip back 15 seconds Play audio Skip forward 15 seconds - 0.5x 0.6x 0.7x 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.3x 1.4x 1.5x 1.6x 1.7x 1.8x 1.9x 2.0x 2.1x 2.2x 2.3x 2.4x 2.5x 2.6x 2.7x 2.8x 2.9x 3.0x + KEY POINTS The CDC withheld a vaccine study, disparaging the scientific methodology. JAMA published the study, which found vaccine reduced COVID-related hospitalizations. Critics of the decision to squelch the research fear it was political. JAMA Network Open just published a COVID-19 vaccine study that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided not to publish back in March.
The article highlights the 'political motive' narrative prominently, though it does include the CDC's stated scientific justification.
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