CDC hides some data that’s ‘not ready for prime time’ — but uses unverified records to support efficacy of COVID vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week admitted it is hiding large portions of COVID-19 data it collects from the public because of fears the information could be misinterpreted. Yet the agency publishes other data that it openly admits hasn’t been verified in an effort to promote the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that CDC data on the effectiveness of COVID-19 booster shots released in February left out crucial information on adults age 18 to 49. According to the report, data showed this group was least likely to benefit from booster shots because the first two doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines offered sufficient protection from the virus.

But sources told the Times that this data, and other data on hospitalizations for COVID-19 broken down by age, race, and vaccination status, have been withheld by the CDC for fear that people will get the wrong idea if it is released publicly.

CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund told the paper that the agency has been slow to release certain data “because basically, at the end of the day, it’s not yet ready for prime time.” She said the agency’s “priority when gathering any data is to ensure that it’s accurate and actionable.”

Nordlund also said another reason for holding data back is the fear that it might be misinterpreted, but she did not say how it could be. Presumably, the CDC is worried that raw data accessed by the public could be used to question federal guidance on COVID-19 prevention measures, including masking and vaccination. – READ MORE