Republicans attack vaccines and authorization with misleading claims

WASHINGTON – As the House of Representatives debates for hours Pandemic measuresRepublican lawmakers on Tuesday repeatedly misinterpreted vaccines’ effectiveness, the rationale behind vaccines’ missions and their effects.

The two measures introduced by Republicans would end the mandate to vaccinate some healthcare workers as well as the public health emergency declared at the start of the pandemic. Houseacceptance bothbill, largely party lines, on Tuesday. However, they did not have enough votes to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, let alone get approval from President Biden.

Here is a fact check of some of their reviews.

What was said?

“Doctor. Walensky, director of the CDC, said in August 2021, citing, ‘What they can’t do’ — which is a vaccine — ‘What they can’t do anymore is stop transmission.’ The CDC’s own website says the vaccine is currently not contagious. Zero. However, that is the whole basis of the vaccine mission.”
— Representative Chip Roy, Republic of Texas

This is misleading. Mr. Roy was referring to – and picking the cherry – comments by Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about the agency’s guidelines for Covid-19 vaccines and why behind vaccine regulations for federal employees and some health care professionals.

In August 2021, as the number of corona virus infections increased due to the more contagious Delta variant, the CDC had to We encourage you to wear masks in public againDr. Walensky appeared on CNN to explain the update instructions.

When asked about “breakout cases” – people who are fully vaccinated but still contract the virus – Dr Walensky stressed the importance of vaccination despite the fact that vaccines do not seem to prevent sudden infections.

“Our vaccine is working very well. They continue to work well for Delta. For serious illness and death, they prevent it,” she speaks. “But what they can’t do anymore is stop the spread.”

Jason McDonald, a spokesman for Dr. Walensky, noted that at the time of her comment, the agency was still studying the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Delta variant.

However, he added, “at no point did Dr. Walensky say or suggest that vaccines are no longer effective or unnecessary, and the suggestion otherwise is misleading.”

A few weeks after Dr. Walensky spoke, CDC has published a study found that the vaccine was still 66% effective at preventing infection from the Delta variant, down from 91% before that variant became dominant.

Dr. Walensky’s comments are in line with guidance from other public health officials and experts. Research at the time Delta’s spike suggests that unvaccinated people are still more likely to contract and spread the disease, despite some sudden infections among vaccinated people.

Mr. Biden’s executive order, issued in September 2021, which requires vaccination of all federal employees, noting that vaccines are “the best way to slow the spread of Covid-19 and prevent transmission of Delta variant or other variants.” But it does not claim that the vaccine is completely effective at stopping transmission.

Instead, the ordinance notes that vaccines “significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths” and help reduce, but not eliminate, infection.

Similarly, the Biden administration issue a regulation November 2021 requires immunization of staff at Medicare and Medicaid participating health care facilities. That regulation notes that vaccination can reduce transmission, but also reduce “related morbidity and mortality among service providers and communities” as well as risks to both staff medical and patient. (Regulations are binding in the courts.)

The CDC website still strongly recommends vaccination, including booster shots, against Covid-19. An explanation page that “immunization remains the safest strategy to avoid hospitalization, long-term health effects, and death.” Another page debunks the “myth” also noted that “high vaccination coverage in the community reduces the spread of the virus and helps prevent new variants from emerging”. And Latest data from CDC showed that those who received the booster shot were 12 times less likely to die from Covid-19 than those who were not vaccinated and three times less likely to contract the disease.

What was said?

“The next lie: that vaccines do no harm.”
— Representative Thomas Massie, Republic of Kentucky

This is misleading. Mr Massie said the mandate to vaccinate healthcare workers was “based on lies”, including what he described as claims that vaccines had no side effects or adverse reactions. But no such claim has ever been made.

Contrary to Mr Massie’s claim that the committee had promised the vaccine would cause no side effects, the November 2021 regulation made it clear that such side effects could occur.

In fact, part of the original draft regulation required facilities to support immunization by “providing reasonable time and paid leave for employees to receive vaccines and recover from adverse effects.” side effects”.

It also states that “side effects after vaccination often include swelling, redness, and pain at the injection site; flu-like symptoms; headache; and nausea; all usually for short periods of time. It also acknowledges the possibility of “serious adverse reactions” but correctly notes that these reactions are rare.

However, the government said, the benefits of vaccination in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death outweigh the possible risks. And hundreds of millions of Americans have been safely vaccinated against Covid.

A completed memo, released in October, outlines how different facilities must comply with the rule and provides exemptions for medical and religious reasons.

What was said?

“We have a severe shortage of healthcare workers, many of whom are heroes working on the front lines, saving lives throughout this pandemic, who have said they don’t want vaccines. They don’t want to take it. They want to trust their own natural immunity.”
— Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republic of Georgia

This is misleading. The health care industry and research have long warned that the number of healthcare workers is not keeping up with the demand for healthcare, even before Pandemic begins. While the pandemic has certainly exacerbated that labor shortage, and the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates prompted some to resign, those mandates don’t seem to have been a major factor. lead to shortages.

Report May 2022 from the Department of Health and Human Services notes that even before the pandemic, burnout, burnout, and mental health concerns were “serious issues” for employees medican. The pandemic puts additional stress on workers and leaves them vulnerable to illness.

Mr. Biden’s vaccine mandate for federally funded healthcare facilities has led to reports of additional staffing losses. But employment figures Overall has not yet experienced dramatic change, with hospitals across the US employing 5,121.50 employees in September 2021 (when mandate was announced), 5,137,600 in March 2022 (time period). compliance deadline) and 5,279,300 in December 2022 (the most recent month for available data).

Fierce Healthcare Industry Website list about fifty hospitals across the country have announced layoffs, suspensions or resignations that typically range from less than 1 percent to 5 percent of their workforce. in one Analysis May 2022 Regarding government data on nursing facilities, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that “vaccine regulation has not exacerbated staffing shortages to the extent initially hypothesized because shortages have actually decreased.” nationwide as of January 2022.”

Additionally, Ms. Greene’s mention of natural immunity may erroneously suggest that being infected with Covid-19 negates the need for vaccination. Although recent infections may provide protection, Experts are still Vaccination recommended for more complete protection.