The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prepared but ultimately did not send an alert to state and local officials about the emerging link between heart inflammation (myocarditis) and COVID-19 vaccines, as revealed by a new document.
This withheld communication has raised questions about the transparency and decision-making processes at the CDC.
CDC’s draft alert on myocarditis and mRNA vaccines
In May 2021, CDC officials, including Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the agency’s lead official for equity in COVID-19 data and engagement, drafted an alert regarding myocarditis and the widely used mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna).
The draft, titled “draft alert on myocarditis and mRNA vaccines,” was attached to an email, which is now public for the first time.
“This is the most recent draft of an alert as discussed. Happy to discuss,” Dr. Daskalakis stated in the email.
The draft alert’s content, still under acquisition by The Epoch Times, has sparked criticism from healthcare professionals.
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CDC criticized for delaying myocarditis warning after COVID-19 vaccinations
Dr. Joel Wallskog, co-chair of the vaccine-injured advocacy group React19, commented, “This censorship of a proposed alert in May of 2021 is just one more example of our regulatory agencies’ repeated pattern of behavior to censor any information that serves to counter the narrative that the COVID-19 vaccinations are ’safe and effective.’”
The CDC began receiving reports of myocarditis following vaccinations as early as January 2021.
However, it appears the agency failed to acknowledge or act upon this safety signal initially.
This delayed reaction and the decision not to issue the myocarditis alert, despite growing evidence, have led to criticisms regarding the CDC’s handling of vaccine safety information.
CDC’s approach to vaccine safety communication
A CDC spokesperson defended the agency’s approach, stating, “CDC uses a variety of ways to inform the public of potential vaccine safety concerns.
A HAN is one method.” Instead of the Health Alert Network (HAN) message, the CDC issued “clinical considerations” in May 2021.
This document noted the increased myocarditis cases post-mRNA vaccination but recommended vaccination for most people over age 11.
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CDC’s strategy for disseminating clinical updates to providers
The CDC’s media office did not clarify how the agency ensured the same audience targeted by a HAN would see the “clinical considerations” document.
“The clinical consideration reached the provider audience as the HAN would have,” a spokesperson claimed.
“A clinical consideration is useful when information needs to be updated as circumstances evolve, and more data is collected and evaluated.”
Comparative response to Johnson & Johnson vaccine concerns
The CDC’s response contrasts sharply with its actions regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. On April 13, 2021, the CDC issued an alert about a rare combination of blood clotting and low platelet levels following Johnson & Johnson vaccinations.
This message highlighted six cases of the condition, including one death, and recommended pausing the vaccine’s administration.
Dr. Tracy Hoeg, an epidemiologist, pointed out this inconsistency, saying, “That’s a double standard.”
She emphasized the need for accountability, suggesting that those drafting the withheld myocarditis alert should testify before Congress.
Investigation into CDC’s pandemic response
The U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which examines the U.S. response to the pandemic, has not commented.
The CDC’s later alerts encouraging COVID-19 vaccination did not mention myocarditis, underscoring the concerns about the agency’s communication strategy regarding vaccine safety.
This development raises significant questions about the CDC’s transparency and approach to public health messaging during the pandemic.
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