A routine CDC study assessing COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness has been flagged for review by a Trump administration official, delaying its publication. The study, which utilized a widely accepted test-negative case-control design, aimed to estimate the vaccine's impact on hospitalizations and medical care visits.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, stated that CDC leadership routinely reviews studies for methodological concerns. However, sources suggest the delay is linked to political opposition to vaccine mandates and accessibility. Dan Jernigan, a former CDC division head, believes the move aligns with an agenda to reduce vaccine availability, particularly for children.
The stalled report's findings on vaccine effectiveness contradict the direction of current vaccine policy, according to critics.