CDC Director defends statement that vaccinated individuals do not spread the virus.

Did Vaccinated People Transmit COVID-19 in Early 2021?

“Vaccinated people do not carry the virus, don’t get sick, and that it’s not just in the clinical trials but it’s also in real-world data,”

That was the claim made by the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 29, 2021. However, the CDC has been unable to provide any evidence showing the vaccines prevented transmission or infection.

Data from the clinical trials for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines estimated they were about 95 percent effective against symptomatic infection but did not measure efficacy against transmission. Real-world data showed similar effectiveness against symptomatic infection and some observational data indicated the vaccines could reduce transmission, but the CDC has contradicted Walensky’s claims.

What Does the Data Show?

The agency reported several weeks after Walensky’s remarks that some 5,800 people who were vaccinated had become infected, with 74 dying. Testing of people who became sick during an outbreak in Massachusetts showed similar viral loads in the vaccinated and unvaccinated, and a majority of cases happened in the vaccinated, prompting the agency to adjust its guidance on mask-wearing.

Pressed on the discrepancy between the data and her statement, Walensky said her claim was “generally accurate.” She added that people who were vaccinated could get infected but that even if that happened, the people “can’t give it to anyone else.”

Why the Confusion?

During a White House briefing in February 2021, Walensky said that schools could be reopened even without teachers being vaccinated. Then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the following day that Walensky “spoke to this in her personal capacity.”

Rep. Jim Jordan saw a connection between the White House minimizing Walensky’s opinion and her false statements. He wondered why not just be accurate and tell the American people the truth?

What do you think about the CDC’s claims? Let us know in the comments below.

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