On Sunday, the New York Times published a shocking report that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admitted that some COVID vaccine data was not disclosed to the public because it could lead to misinformation. While the CDC openly admitting that it is trying to hide vital health information from the public is big news, apparently only one of the evening newscasts thought so, with NBC Nightly News being the only network to cover it. Both ABC World News Tonight and CBS Evening News both ignored the story.
World News Tonight decided their time was better spent hyping a fourth COVID shot to their viewers. “We also have news on COVID and the pandemic tonight,” anchor David Muir breathlessly reported. “The FDA is now looking at the possibility of authorizing a fourth dose of vaccine, another booster after one study showed that the third shot, that booster, offered 91 percent protection against hospitalization, very effective, but also that it falls to about 78 percent after four to five months.”
Muir then brought on correspondent Trevor Ault to whine that over “50 percent of eligible Americans still haven't received” a COVID vaccine, noting that's “more than 85 million people.”
Over on CBS Evening News, fill-in host Jericka Duncan huffed that Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson “announced the end of all COVID restrictions.” Duncan panicked that this decision was made “despite warnings from scientists who say that decision would weaken the country's defenses against the virus.” In other words, Duncan thinks the pandemic lockdowns should last forever.
Meanwhile, Nightly News actually covered the stunning revelation from the CDC, with national correspondent Miguel Almaguer reporting:
With the CDC already under scrutiny, tonight The New York Times says the agency isn't publishing large portions of data it's collecting, like the effectiveness of boosters for younger Americans and signs of the virus in wastewater. The agency telling the paper some raw data could be misinterpreted.
While Almaguer did report on the CDC story, he was unable to stop himself from whining about how "there is pressure to unmask in the classroom" despite his admission seconds earlier about the "dramatic drop in hospitalizations" and COVID infections being down sixty-four percent.
With many Americans skeptical about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccines, the CDC failing to disclose complete data, while the liberal media runs cover for them will not ease skeptic's fears.
This latest example of bias by omission from ABC and CBS was made possible thanks to lucrative sponsorships from Pacific Life on ABC and Ensure on CBS. Their information is linked.
To read the relevant transcripts of each segment click “expand”:
ABC World News Tonight
2/21/2022
6:43:35DAVID MUIR: We also have news on COVID and the pandemic tonight. The FDA is now looking at the possibility of authorizing a fourth dose of vaccine, another booster after one study showed that the third shot, that booster, offered 91 percent protection against hospitalization, very effective, but also that it falls to about 78 percent after four to five months. So, how to keep the progress after this Omicron wave is over? Here's Trevor Ault tonight.
(...)
TREVOR AULT: The FDA's vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks telling "The New York Times" the best strategy may be to pair the next booster with the influenza vaccine next fall and get as many people as possible boosted then. But he and other health officials stress there's still not enough data to recommend a fourth dose. And a recent CDC study found the first Pfizer and Moderna boosters are highly effective, offering 91 percent protection from hospitalizations, though it falls to 78 percent after four to five months.
Dr. ANTHONY FAUCI: 78 percent's pretty good. It likely will go down sometime. We don't know for sure. We're hoping it'll hold tight up there. But if it does go down, I think you can expect some modification of the recommendation.
AULT: A fourth shot is already recommended for the immunocompromised. But the pace of booster shots has slowed dramatically overall. 50 percent of eligible Americans still haven't received one, more than 85 million people. And David, the FDA has not yet given a specific timeline for a decision on a fourth shot, but Dr. Fauci says they're carefully monitoring the potential need in real-time and they will update their recommendations as the new data comes in. David?
CBS Evening News
2/21/2022
6:41:23JERICKA DUNCAN: Across the pond, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of all COVID restrictions in England starting Thursday. The news comes despite warnings from scientists who say that decision would weaken the country's defenses against the virus.
NBC Nightly News
2/21/2022
7:08:53MIGUEL ALMAGUER: It's not just the dramatic drop in hospitalizations but the sharp decline in infections, down 64 percent, that could help pave the way for the CDC to roll back national masking guidance this week. While it's unclear if there will be any impact on airplanes and public transit like the subway. In states like New York and California, there is pressure to unmask in the classroom despite low vaccination rates for children and the CDC's guidance to keep them.
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM: We will be announcing a specific date, that date with destiny. The masks will come off.
ALMAGUER: With the CDC already under scrutiny, tonight The New York Times says the agency isn't publishing large portions of data it's collecting, like the effectiveness of boosters for younger Americans and signs of the virus in wastewater. The agency telling the paper some raw data could be misinterpreted.
DR. PAUL OFFIT (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center): The CDC is obligated to provide us with excellent data. I think if they have preliminary data that are not yet internally consistent or robust or validated, they are under no obligation to provide those data, which would only be confusing.
ALMAGUER: As our nation remains eager for a new normal, several new studies show three doses of a COVID vaccine or even two could offer longer protection from serious illness and death.
