“As CDC Director, it is my job to recognize where our actions can have the greatest impact. At CDC, we are tasked with analyzing complex, often imperfect data to make concrete recommendations that optimize health. In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
Emphasis mine. How many lab coats sit on that panel?
There are surprising admissions in that one paragraph. I’m sure this decision will greatly reduce vaccine hesitancy.
It is a shame that the language of science is used to attack it. Science is honest about not knowing everything and commonly couches this in language choices such as “may”, “could”, “likely” and so on.
I am reminded of the debate about God and logic by presuppositionalists. They keep asking scientists “Are you absolutely certain this is true?”and the scientists will admit that he is not absolutely certain which is then held as an example of science not knowing anything for certain.
The lab coats on that panel recommended the booster for all adults 65+ and for any age that has underlying conditions. The vote was 9-6 against recommending the booster for younger people in high risk occupations such as healthcare workers, teachers, and those that work with the public.
So let’s cut to the chase … Does this statement from the CDC Director increase your confidence that you should get a booster or decease it? And does it increase your confidence in the CDC in general, or decrease it?
