House Republicans have accused the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of pushing the Biden administration’s political agenda on the COVID-19 booster shot — contrary to scientific advice from the health agency’s own advisory panel.
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic — led by Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) — demanded in a letter obtained by The Post that the CDC release its memo explaining why it decided to reject its 15-member vaccine advisory panel during its 2021 meeting.
The letter, which accused the CDC of having “political ties to the narrative pushed by the Biden White House,” also came days before a meeting where the panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will consider whether to recommend that people receive another booster shot. .
On September 23, 2021, ACIP chose not to recommend booster shots for those in high-risk occupations, such as healthcare workers and teachers.
But the next day, former CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky replaced the proposal and endorsed the vaccine.
“ACIP specifically notes the risk of myocarditis in young men in advising against broadly recommending booster shots for those with high-risk jobs,” Wenstrup wrote in a letter to CDC Director Mandy Cohen on Wednesday.
“However, former Director Walensky ignored this aspect of ACIP’s advice and included this younger, healthier cohort.”
Brad Wenstrup is leading the Republican charge to examine the government’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.Getty Images
Mandy Cohen took over as CDC director in July.TNS
Republicans accuse the CDC of pushing the Biden administration’s agenda. Reuters
Wenstrup also drew attention to the speed with which the national public health agency acted to reject its own advisory panel at the time.
The panel’s vote on a boost for those with high-risk jobs was also close, but Walensky’s decision to defy his own advisers still surprised some of his staff, the New York Times reported at the time.
“These highly variable results are all the more troubling because of the broad powers that the CDC Director — a position currently not subject to the advice and consent of the United States Senate — wields in making decisions about the health of the American people,” Wenstrup wrote.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky served as CDC director from January 2021 to last June. ZUMAPRESS.com
The specific materials demanded by Wenstrup include all documents related to the September 23, 2021 booster shot recommendation as well as all documents related to Walensky’s decision to supersede that recommendation.
ACIP will meet again on September 12 to decide whether to recommend boosters again this winter.
Wenstrup demanded the material by September 20.
Meanwhile, President Biden has made it clear that he believes ACIP should release the proposal.
President Biden is encouraging people to get their COVID-19 shots during the pandemic.AFP via Getty Images
“Unfortunately, it seems that politics may play a role in this proposal,” Wenstrup warned.
“These comments suggest the Biden Administration has a choice outcome and are deeply troubling. The CDC must follow medical science, not political science,” he continued.
The upcoming ACIP decision comes amid an increase in COVID-19 cases at the national level.
Hospital admissions due to COVID-19 have also increased since July, according to data from the CDC.
First lady Jill Biden, 72, also tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday – at least for the third time.
Republican lawmakers in Congress have been keen to examine the federal government’s response to the outbreak.
Last week, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) demanded materials related to his accusations that the CDC is working with Big Tech to censor its own vaccine data.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
