Biden administrator dismisses GOP criticism of study cited in CDC’s new mask guide

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Officials in the Biden administration are playing down Republican attacks on the latest mask guidelines, focusing on a study cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in making its decision.

The CDC recommended earlier this week that vaccinated people continue to wear masks indoors in areas where the case rate is above 50 per 100,000 people, fearing that the delta variant, now the dominant strain of coronavirus , can still be carried and transmitted by vaccinated people.

In explaining the rationale for the new guideline, the CDC cited “unpublished data” and a study by Indian researchers that found “relatively high viral loads and larger cluster sizes associated with Delta infections, which whatever the vaccination status ”.

HOUSE REIMPOSES THE MANDATE OF THE MASK ON THE HEELS OF THE LAST GUIDANCE OF THE CDC

The CDC said the study was monitoring healthcare professionals who had been vaccinated “with vaccines not authorized in the United States,” but did not note the small sample size of 100 participants.

The CDC also failed to disclose that the study had not been accredited through the peer review process. The preprinted text of the study hosted on Research Square makes it clear that the study is still “under review” and “should not be construed as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for release. as established information or to guide clinical practice “.

A Biden administration official conceded to the Washington Examiner that while the study in question has not yet completed the peer review process, the CDC also cited “Israeli data showing at least 13% breakthroughs transmitted “.

The official also said the CDC would release “much” of the “internal data they reviewed” on Friday before providing the updated guidance.

None of this prevents Republicans from using the study as a new line of attack.

The story continues

Florida Senator Marco Rubio and nine other GOP senators on Thursday introduced the Restore Public Health Institution Trust Act, which, according to a press release from Rubio’s office, “would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the Centers for Disease Control and Decision Making and Prevention Messages (CDC) surrounding its reversal of the mask guidelines for fully immunized Americans. ”

“These guidelines, like most of the actions of the Biden administration these days, make little sense and seem without scientific direction,” Rubio added in a statement. “Americans have spent a year and a half making huge sacrifices to stop the spread of the virus, but they are confused and have lost faith in our institutions. Mixed messages could also degrade confidence in the effectiveness of vaccines. My bill would bring more transparency to CDC decisions, and ask GAO to offer recommendations on how the CDC needs to improve its decision-making process and how it communicates its recommendations.

In the House, Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri and 20 other Republicans sent a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on Friday morning saying the new guidelines undermine the message that vaccinations are an effective tool to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

UPDATED MASK GUIDE FROM CDC BECAUSE “NOT ENOUGH” PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED

“We are aware that many states are currently experiencing a significant increase in COVID-19 infections due to the transmissibility of the Delta variant. As members of Congress, we are concerned about this increase in cases and support state-led efforts to increase vaccinations and mitigate the spread. However, for now, we believe that stricter mask guidelines will be ineffective and discourage vaccination, ”said the letter, of which the Washington Examiner obtained a copy. “Your most recent advice has come out despite definitive scientific evidence showing that the vaccine is effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and for the revolutionary cases that do occur, hospitalization and death are almost completely avoided. in fact, the study used by the CDC was rejected in a peer review and was based on data from a vaccine that is not approved in the United States. “

“In other words, the decision was based on the lack of scientific evidence showing transmission among people who received a US-approved vaccine,” the letter continued. “Arbitrary reversal of mask guidelines for people vaccinated by your agency will cause additional hesitation about the vaccine, as it incorrectly implies that the available COVID-19 vaccines are not effective. “

Minority House Leader Kevin McCarthy also elevated the India study. He tweeted Wednesday night that the CDC’s guidelines were based “exclusively” on the flawed report and again raised the subject during a ground speech.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called McCarthy a “fool” because of his comments.

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In addition, social media posts on Wednesday evening claim that the India study was previously rejected by the peer review process, although this claim was not corroborated by the Washington Examiner.

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Tags: News, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Joe Biden, Rochelle Walensky, White House, Jason Smith, Kevin McCarthy, Marco Rubio

Original author: Christian Datoc

Original location: Biden administrator dismisses GOP criticism of study cited in CDC’s new mask guide

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