health

April 30, 2026

CDC head Jay Bhattacharya hits back at critics over withheld COVID-19 vaccine study

The acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defended himself against criticism for his decision not to publish a study on the efficacy of last year’s COVID-19 vaccines.

CDC head Jay Bhattacharya hits back at critics over withheld COVID-19 vaccine study

TL;DR

  • Jay Bhattacharya, acting head of the CDC, defended his decision to withhold a study on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy.
  • Critics accused Bhattacharya of suppressing data that might contradict anti-vaccine rhetoric.
  • Bhattacharya cited methodological problems with the study's test-negative design as the reason for not publishing.
  • He stated that the CDC's responsibility is to ensure all published information is rigorously validated and accurate.
  • The study's draft results indicated that vaccinated individuals were 50% less likely to have an emergency department visit and 55% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals.
  • Bhattacharya's decision is part of a broader reform to establish a new peer-reviewed journal for the CDC.
  • The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, where the study was to be published, is not peer-reviewed.
  • Bhattacharya also holds the role of head of the NIH and will serve as acting CDC director until Dr. Erica Schwartz is confirmed.

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