CDC announces potential 'safety concern' related to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and strokes



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a "signal" related to whether there is a problem with ischemic stroke in individuals ages 65 and above who have had the updated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jab.

"Following the availability and use of the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines, CDC’s Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), a near real-time surveillance system, met the statistical criteria to prompt additional investigation into whether there was a safety concern for ischemic stroke in people ages 65 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent. Rapid-response investigation of the signal in the VSD raised a question of whether people 65 and older who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent were more likely to have an ischemic stroke in the 21 days following vaccination compared with days 22-44 following vaccination," a press release states.

"This preliminary signal has not been identified with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent. There also may be other confounding factors contributing to the signal identified in the VSD that merit further investigation. Furthermore, it is important to note that, to date, no other safety systems have shown a similar signal and multiple subsequent analyses have not validated this signal," the agency added. "Although the totality of the data currently suggests that it is very unlikely that the signal in VSD represents a true clinical risk, we believe it is important to share this information with the public," the press release states. "CDC and FDA will continue to evaluate additional data from these and other vaccine safety systems."

The press release listed various other considerations which did not indicate an elevated ischemic stroke risk related to the vaccine.

"A large study of updated (bivalent) vaccines (from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services database revealed no increased risk of ischemic stroke," the press release stated. "A preliminary study using the Veterans Affairs database did not indicate an increased risk of ischemic stroke following an updated (bivalent) vaccine."

"The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) managed by CDC and FDA has not seen an increase in reporting of ischemic strokes following the updated (bivalent) vaccine," the press release added. "Pfizer-BioNTech’s global safety database has not indicated a signal for ischemic stroke with the updated (bivalent) vaccine."

The CDC is still advising that individuals ages 6 months and above should keep up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

"Pfizer and BioNTech have been made aware of limited reports of ischemic stroke that have been observed in the CDC Vaccine Safety DataLink (VSD) database in people 65 and older following vaccination with the Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech," a Pfizer spokesperson noted in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Neither Pfizer and BioNTech nor the CDC or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have observed similar findings across numerous other monitoring systems in the U.S. and globally and there is no evidence to conclude that ischemic stroke is associated with the use of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccines," the Pfizer spokesperson added, according to the outlet. "Compared to published incidence rates of ischemic stroke in this older population, the companies to date have observed a lower number of reported ischemic strokes following the vaccination with the Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine. The CDC continues to recommend vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for all authorized ages and indications."

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky tested positive for COVID-19 in October 2022, after having already received an updated bivalent COVID-19 shot in September. She then took Paxlovid, tested negative, but then tested positive again.

"COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent every infection, but they do provide us important protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. My updated #COVID19 vaccine helped ensure my immune system was equipped to protect me against severe illness," Walensky said in a November tweet on the @CDCDirector Twitter account.

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University of Notre Dame mandates bivalent COVID-19 jab to enroll for 2023-2024 academic year, 'including students studying or performing research remotely and/or virtually'



The University of Notre Dame is requiring students to receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine shot in order to enroll in courses for the 2023-2024 academic year, including scholars who will be learning remotely.

"All students are required to be fully vaccinated or receive an exemption before arriving on campus for the 2022-23 academic year," the school states on a webpage about its student vaccination mandate. "Additionally, as an extension of the University’s existing COVID-19 vaccination requirement, the COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine is required of all students - undergraduate, graduate, and professional, including students studying or performing research remotely and/or virtually - as a condition of enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year."

The private educational institution, which describes itself as being "defined by its Catholic character," says that students may seek medical or religious exemptions to its COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

"Exemptions are determined on a case-by-case basis, and in each case must be supported by specific documentation," the school states. "Returning students who received a religious exemption from the University's vaccination requirement will automatically receive exemptions for the 2022-23 academic year and the 2023-24 academic year," the university also indicates. "Students on campus attending programs that last fewer than 7 days are exempt from the requirement, though vaccination is still strongly recommended."

Mary Frances Myler, whose Twitter profile indicates that she is a post-graduate fellow with the school's Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government, tweeted an image of a message in which University Health Services Director Edward P. Junkins informed students about the bivalent booster mandate and said that those who had previously obtained a COVID-19 vaccination mandate exemption will also be exempt from the bivalent shot requirement.

\u201cAs of today, Notre Dame will require yet ANOTHER round of the vaccine for students. The pandemic ended, but the Covid Regime remains fully intact and detached from reality.\u201d
— Mary Frances Myler (@Mary Frances Myler) 1668474236

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky received a bivalent booster in September but later tested positive for COVID-19 in October. Walensky took a course of Paxlovid and then tested negative, but she then tested positive again later in October.

"Thank you to my family and CDC staff for support while I recovered from COVID-19. I am fortunate to have only had mild symptoms, which I credit to being up to date on my #COVID19 vaccines," Walensky said in a tweet posted to the @CDCDirector Twitter account earlier this month. "COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent every infection, but they do provide us important protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. My updated #COVID19 vaccine helped ensure my immune system was equipped to protect me against severe illness," she tweeted.

\u201cCOVID-19 vaccines may not prevent every infection, but they do provide us important protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. My updated #COVID19 vaccine helped ensure my immune system was equipped to protect me against severe illness.\u201d
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH) 1667918175

CDC director tests positive for COVID-19 again



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in October, took a course of Paxlovid, tested negative, and then tested positive again, according to the CDC.

"CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky experienced mild symptoms from her recent COVID-19 infection, completed a course of Paxlovid, and, after a period of isolation, tested negative for the virus. On Sunday, Dr. Walensky began to develop mild symptoms and has again tested positive. Consistent with CDC guidelines, she is isolating at home and will participate in her planned meetings virtually," the CDC noted on Monday.

Earlier in October, when Walensky first tested positive, the CDC noted that she was "up to date with her vaccines" and that she only had "mild symptoms."

Walensky received an updated COVID-19 vaccine shot in September.

"Today, I received my updated #COVID19 vaccine!" a tweet on the @CDCDirector Twitter account noted in September. "Laboratory data suggest these updated vaccines provide increased protection against currently circulating variants. If you received your last COVID-19 vaccine >2 mo. ago, I encourage you to join me & get your updated vaccine now."

Days after the announcement of Walensky's initial positive test, President Joe Biden received an updated COVID-19 vaccine jab, and urged others to follow suit. "Update ... your COVID vaccine. It's incredibly effective. But the truth is, not enough people are getting it," Biden said.

Biden tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year after having already been fully vaccinated and boosted twice. Biden took Paxlovid, and physician to the president Dr. Kevin O'Connor noted that Biden tested negative before testing positive again. "This in fact represents 'rebound' positivity," O'Connor noted in a memo.

Similarly, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci tested positive earlier this year despite having been fully vaccinated and twice boosted. He too took Paxlovid, tested negative, and then tested positive again.

Foreign Policy Global Health Forum 2022 youtu.be

Biden gets updated COVID-19 vaccine shot and urges others to do the same; White House pushes vaccination with cringey video



President Joe Biden received an updated COVID-19 vaccine shot on Tuesday after delivering remarks in which he strongly urged other people to do the same. In the Biden administration's push for people to get vaccinated, the White House has released a cringeworthy video.

"Update ... your COVID vaccine. It's incredibly effective. But the truth is, not enough people are getting it," Biden said before getting the shot on Tuesday.

President Biden Receives his Updated COVID-19 Vaccine and Delivers Remarks www.youtube.com

The president, who has been a prominent vaccine-pusher throughout his tenure, tested positive for COVID-19 in July despite having been fully vaccinated and boosted twice — a statement from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the time noted that Biden had "very mild symptoms" and started taking Paxlovid.

But later, after testing negative several times, the president tested positive again: "This in fact represents 'rebound' positivity," physician to the president Kevin O'Connor noted in a memo in July. "The President has experienced no reemergence of symptoms, and continues to feel quite well."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Dr. Rochelle Walensky tested positive for COVID-19 last week despite having already received an updated shot in September. A press release noted that Walensky tested positive but that she was "up to date with her vaccines" and was only "experiencing mild symptoms."

"Today, I received my updated #COVID19 vaccine!" a tweet last month on the @CDCDirector Twitter account declared. "Laboratory data suggest these updated vaccines provide increased protection against currently circulating variants. If you received your last COVID-19 vaccine >2 mo. ago, I encourage you to join me & get your updated vaccine now."

\u201cToday, I received my updated #COVID19 vaccine!\n\nLaboratory data suggest these updated vaccines provide increased protection against currently circulating variants. If you received your last COVID-19 vaccine >2 mo. ago, I encourage you to join me & get your updated vaccine now.\u201d
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH) 1663872956

As the Biden administration presses people to go get another jab, the White House posted a video on social media that features coughing sounds and anxiety-provoking music as text on the screen warns, "You can't see it! But you can hear it!"

"Get your annual COVID vaccine shot before Halloween," text on the screen declares, "and avoid a spooky Thanksgiving."

\u201cAvoid a spooky Thanksgiving.\n \nhttps://t.co/5SMDHKKopq.\u201d
— The White House (@The White House) 1666712125

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, who previously said vaccinated people 'don't get sick,' tests positive a month after getting booster shot



CDC Director Rochelle Walensky tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday night.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that Walensky was experiencing mild symptoms and was resting at home. Walensky will participate in CDC meetings virtually.

Reuters reported that Walensky was not at the White House at the end of this week and had not met in person with any senior U.S. officials before testing positive for COVID-19.

Walensky attended the World Health Summit in Berlin on Monday and Tuesday – where the CDC director wore a mask at all times except when eating or publicly speaking, according to a spokesperson. Walensky returned to the United States on Wednesday.

The CDC statement said that Walensky was "up to date" with her vaccines.

The U.S. health agency defines "up to date" as: "If you have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and received the most recent booster dose recommended for you by CDC."

The CDC guidance adds, "You are still up to date if you receive all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for you and then become ill with COVID-19. You do not need to be immediately revaccinated or receive an additional booster."

Exactly a month ago, Walensky received the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine – which is said to provide protection against the original COVID-19 strain and the Omicron variant.

\u201c.@CDCDirector Rochelle Walensky visited a CVS Pharmacy today to get her bivalent COVID-19 booster. The bivalent vaccine provides added protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant and is available at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide. https://t.co/wXDZYrmMyd\u201d
— CVS Health (@CVS Health) 1663881207

In March 2021, Walensky declared that vaccinated people "don't get sick."

“Our data from the CDC today suggests that vaccinated people do not carry the virus, don’t get sick,” Walensky told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. “And that it’s not just in the clinical trials, it’s also in real-world data.”

Days after Walensky made the comments, the CDC walked the director's remarks back.

“It’s possible that some people who are fully vaccinated could get COVID-19," a CDC spokesperson told the New York Times. "The evidence isn’t clear whether they can spread the virus to others. We are continuing to evaluate the evidence."

\u201cCDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky: \u201cOur data from the CDC today suggest that vaccinated people do not carry the virus.\u201d\u201d
— The Recount (@The Recount) 1617125532

CDC director faces criticism from all sides over statement that 75% of COVID-19 deaths have 'at least four comorbidities'



U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky is being criticized from all sides over comments she made last week in an interview.

Appearing on ABC News to discuss Omicron variant death statistics, Walensky was asked about a new CDC study that found COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death. The study looked at more than 1 million people who completed primary vaccination (two shots, no booster, or one Johnson & Johnson shot) between December 2020 and October 2021. Researchers found that "severe COVID-19-associated outcomes" occurred only in only 0.015% of vaccinated people. Deaths were rare, happening in only 0.0033% of cases.

"Severe COVID-19 outcomes were defined as hospitalization with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure, need for noninvasive ventilation (NIV), admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) including all persons requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, or death (including discharge to hospice)," the study said. "Among 1,228,664 persons who completed primary vaccination during December 2020–October 2021, a total of 2,246 (18.0 per 10,000 vaccinated persons) developed COVID-19 and 189 (1.5 per 10,000) had a severe outcome, including 36 who died (0.3 deaths per 10,000)."

The study explained that people most at risk from developing a severe outcome were older than 65, are immunosuppressed, or have at least one of six other underlying health conditions.

Digging into these results on Friday, Walensky told "Good Morning America" that the vast majority of people who died of COVID-19 after primary vaccination had at least four underlying conditions that increased their risk of serious illness. Those conditions include diabetes, and chronic kidney, cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, and liver diseases.

"The overwhelming number of deaths, over 75%, occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities. So really these were people who were unwell to begin with, and yes, really encouraging news in the context of Omicron," Walensky said, referring to deaths of vaccinated people examined in the study, not total deaths from COVID-19.

CDC director responds to criticisms on COVID-19 guidance l GMAyoutu.be

Some people on social media attacked the CDC director for allegedly speaking disrespectfully toward disabled or chronically ill people. Newsweek reported that Twitter users posted #MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy with comments criticizing Walensky for saying she was encouraged that COVID-19 deaths among the vaccinated appear limited to people with preexisting health conditions or disabilities.

"Contrary to popular belief, CDC Director, disabled people aren't just data points ... How callous to say you're encouraged by the prospect of their deaths," Imani Barbarin, a disability rights activist, wrote.

Contrary to popular belief, @CDCDirector, disabled people aren\u2019t just data points. Every life lost was loved by someone, someone\u2019s community member, someone\u2019s friend. \n\nHow callous to say you\u2019re encouraged by the prospect of their deaths. \n\n #MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy
— Imani Barbarin, MAGC | Crutches&Spice \u267f\ufe0f (@Imani Barbarin, MAGC | Crutches&Spice \u267f\ufe0f) 1641695050

Matthew Cortland, a lawyer who suffers from a chronic illness, tweeted: "It is 'encouraging' to [Walensky] that chronically ill and disabled Americans are dying ... our deaths clearly don't count."

It is "encouraging" to @CDCDirector that chronically ill & disabled Americans are dying. It's no wonder that @CDCgov has consistently refused to issue guidance protecting the health & wellbeing of chronically ill Americans \u2013 our deaths clearly don't count.pic.twitter.com/zd3iBQTH0J
— Matthew Cortland, JD (@Matthew Cortland, JD) 1641608728

Many others shared similar comments, some of them nasty. The social media backlash prompted Walensky to respond on Sunday with a tweet emphasizing the CDC's dedication to protecting people with comorbidities from COVID-19.

We must protect people with comorbidities from severe #COVID19. I went into medicine \u2013 HIV specifically \u2013 and public health to protect our most at-risk. CDC is taking steps to protect those at highest risk, incl. those w/ chronic health conditions, disabilities & older adults.
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH) 1641772496

"We must protect people with comorbidities from severe COVID-19. I went into medicine—HIV specifically—and public health to protect our most at-risk," she wrote. "CDC is taking steps to protect those at highest risk, including those with chronic health conditions, disabilities and older adults."

But the CDC director faced more backlash for entirely different reasons. Several individuals called attention to Walensky's comment that over 75% of COVID deaths were people with "at least four comorbidities." These critics took her comments out of context, leaving out the vaccination effectiveness study and claiming she was saying that 75% of all coronavirus-related deaths were from people with comorbidities.

"How many had 2/3 things that would likely kill them or were in late stage terminal cancer, or were hit by a bus?" Donald Trump Jr. asked. "Whats the # of truly healthy?"

CDC Dir. says over 75% of covid deaths were people with \u201cat least 4 comorbidities\u201d & were \u201cunwell to begin with\u201d\n\nHow many had 2/3 things that would likely kill them or were in late stage terminal cancer, or were hit by a bus?\nWhats the # of truly healthy?https://twitter.com/i/status/1480566096113680388\u00a0\u2026
— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1641840437

"This means they shut down the country, stole two years of education from children, sent thousands of businesses under, and caused mass hysteria when only 209,000 deaths weren't people already deathly sick," Greg Price, a senior digital strategist for X Strategies LLC, a political consulting and digital marketing firm, said.

There have been 836,000 covid deaths in America. \n\n75% of 836K is 627,000.\n\nThis means they shut down the country, stole two years of education from children, sent thousands of businesses under, and caused mass hysteria when only 209,000 deaths weren't people already deathly sickhttps://twitter.com/LucasFoxNews/status/1480566096113680388\u00a0\u2026
— Greg Price (@Greg Price) 1641835199

These critics and others thought Walenksy's comments confirmed a long-held suspicion by many people skeptical of COVID-19 lockdowns and government mandates that reported COVID deaths were inflated by counting deaths with COVID alongside deaths from COVID.

Data from New York, for instance, shows that more than 40% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state are patients that were admitted to the hospitals for reasons other than coronavirus infection or were complications from the virus. Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) ordered hospitals to start differentiating why COVID-19 patients were initially admitted in their daily COVID reports.

Walensky was asked directly about this issue on "Fox News Sunday," hosted by Bret Baier.

"Do you know how many of the 836,000 deaths in the U.S. linked to COVID are from COVID or how many are with COVID, but they had other comorbidities? Do you have that breakdown?" asked Baier.

"Yes of course with Omicron we're following that very carefully," Walensky responded. "Our death registry of course takes a few weeks ... to collect. And of course Omicron has just been with us for a few weeks. But those data will be forthcoming."

Her non-answer only frustrated her critics, who demanded to know when that data would be released so that science, not fear of death from COVID-19, would inform policy makers with the power to close schools, businesses, and mandate masks or vaccination during a pandemic.

Liberals express outrage over new COVID isolation guidelines, push debunked conspiracy theory involving Delta Air Lines



Progressive ideologues voiced outrage this week after the Biden administration relaxed quarantine requirements for people who test positive for COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidance on Monday that people who test positive for COVID should isolate themselves for only five days — down from the agency’s previous requirement of 10 days.

Specifically amid the latest wave of COVID infections, businesses have experienced pressure from a significant increase of employees who have become sick with COVID and are thus being forced to stay home for two weeks.

What was the reaction?

People angry over the updated guidelines charged that the Biden administration made the change to appease corporate interests. Accusers cited Delta Air Lines, which has suffered staffing issues and therefore canceled flights due to sick staff members in recent weeks.

Some of the most circulated accusations included:

  • Jemele Hill: "For example, every media outlet should include that Delta CEO Ed Bastain asked the CDC to reduce the recommended quarantine time from 10 days to 5 for vaccinated people because of workforce impact. That’s not a health decision. The media needs to frame it that way every time."
  • Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.): ".@CDCgov is saying 'we need people back to work quicker even if they are still sick.' Is this based on public health and science? Or is this in response to corporations like Delta who asked for shorter times? ... Public health decisions should be purely based on public health, not the needs of CEOs."
  • Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding: "I suspect Delta Airlines have way more influence than they should because they are based in Atlanta (CDC hq)… Delta shouldn’t be able to lobby the CDC like this!!"
  • Judah Friedlander: "Congrats to the Airline CEOs on being appointed head of @CDCgov. I always get medical advice from Airline CEOs. Glad the @CDCgov is listening to them."
  • Don Winslow: "Dear @CDCgov and @CDCDirector You don't work for Delta Airlines.You should not do what their CEO ask you to do.This wasn't a health decision.It was a political one.You have made a serious mistake here."
  • Russell Foster (D-Texas): "So we find out that Delta CEO Ed Bastain asked the CDC to reduce the recommended quarantine time from 10 days to 5 for vaccinated people because of workforce impact. This change has nothing to do with the virus or your health & everything to do with the profits of corporations."
  • Jesse Jae Hoon: "If you're wondering which scientist the CDC is basing their decision to halve the quarantine time from 10 to 5 days on, it's… Delta CEO Ed Bastian."

What is Delta's role?

Delta CEO Ed Bastian did, in fact, write to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky last week asking her to cut the quarantine requirement from 10 days to five days for vaccinated people who experience a breakthrough COVID infection.

"With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the 10-day isolation for those who are fully vaccinated may significantly impact our workforce and operations," Bastian wrote. "Similar to healthcare, police, fire, and public transportation workforces, the Omicron surge may exacerbate shortages and create significant disruptions."

But what did the CDC say?

Walensky confirmed Wednesday that her agency altered quarantine guidelines based on what public health officials believe Americans can tolerate — not corporate interests.

"It really had a lot to do with what we thought people would be able to tolerate," Walensky said on CNN.

\u201cIt really had a\u00a0lot to do with what we thought\u00a0people would be able to\u00a0tolerate,\u201d CDC Director Walensky says on why the CDC shortened the isolation period from 10 days to 5 days if you\u2019re asymptomatic. Our full interview:pic.twitter.com/rO7blPFiPj
— Kaitlan Collins (@Kaitlan Collins) 1640782912

NIH Director Francis Collins told Anthony Fauci there needs to be a 'quick and devastating' takedown of anti-lockdown declaration by 'fringe' Harvard, Stanford, Oxford epidemiologists: Emails



Newly exposed emails show outgoing National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins commanding Dr. Anthony Fauci to carry out a "quick and devastating" takedown of a statement by public health experts calling for "focused protection" of the most vulnerable populations. Emails show that Fauci would indeed attack the declaration.

What is the Great Barrington Declaration?

Infectious disease epidemiologists and public health scientists authored the Great Barrington Declaration, a document that argues against COVID-19 lockdowns that was released on Oct. 4, 2020.

"Current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health," the declaration stated. "Keeping these measures in place until a vaccine is available will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed."

"As immunity builds in the population, the risk of infection to all – including the vulnerable – falls," the epidemiologists wrote. "We know that all populations will eventually reach herd immunity – i.e. the point at which the rate of new infections is stable – and that this can be assisted by (but is not dependent upon) a vaccine. Our goal should therefore be to minimize mortality and social harm until we reach herd immunity."

More than 15,000 medical and public health scientists have allegedly signed the Great Barrington Declaration and over 45,000 medical practitioners have endorsed the document. The health advice in the Great Barrington Declaration was the complete opposite of what top U.S. public officials espoused.

A 'quick and devastating' takedown is ordered

Four days after the Great Barrington Declaration was released, Collins instructed Fauci and Clifford Lane — the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Deputy Director for Clinical Research and Special Projects — to engage in a "takedown" of the anti-lockdown declaration, according to emails.

The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis obtained and released emails between the public health officials.

"This proposal from three fringe epidemiologists who met with the Secretary seems to be getting a lot of attention — and even a co-signature from Nobel Prize winner Mike Leavitt at Stanford," Collins wrote in an email sent on Oct. 8, 2020.

"There needs to be a quick and devastating takedown of its premises,” Collins wrote in reference to the Great Barrington Declaration.

In new FOIA email dump, NIH Director Collins emailed Fauci to urge a \u201cquick and devastating\u201d propaganda takedown of the Great Barrington Declaration, in which @MartinKulldorff @DrJBhattacharya and @SunetraGupta urged an end to COVID lockdowns and mandates.\nhttps://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/2020.10.13%20FOIA-00001024.pdf\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/jxIMPetjue
— Michael P Senger (@Michael P Senger) 1639780840

How did Dr. Anthony Fauci respond?

Fauci responded to Collins' direction by promoting a Wired U.K. article with the headline: "There is no 'scientific divide' over herd immunity."

Phil Magness — senior research faculty and interim research and education director at the American Institute for Economic Research – noted that the Wired U.K. article from October 2020 stated that the Great Barrington Declaration is irrelevant because lockdowns are in the "past."

The Fauci-endorsed Wired article is noteworthy for having one of the single worst hot-takes of the entire pandemic. It declared in October 2020 that the GBD should be ignored, because lockdowns were a thing of the past and would not be returning! \n\nhttps://www.wired.co.uk/article/great-barrington-declaration-herd-immunity-scientific-divide\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/U3LtPK97zc
— Phil Magness (@Phil Magness) 1639844416

Fauci then shared an article from progressive The Nation titled: "Focused Protection, Herd Immunity, and Other Deadly Delusions."

"But Kulldorff, Bhattacharya, and Gupta’s plan, enshrined as the Great Barrington Declaration unveiled at the American Institute for Economic Research this week, is not the way forward," the article read. "If we’re going to build toward a new politics of care, it will be by relying on progressive principles of justice and equality—not some notion of the survival of the young and the fittest."

Far from a scientific study refuting the GBD, Gonsalves's article is a political op-ed attacking @Jacobin magazine for breaking "solidarity" with other far-left media outlets on lockdowns. Why? Because Jacobin ran an interview with @MartinKulldorff on how lockdowns hurt the poor.pic.twitter.com/0j85WlKiwY
— Phil Magness (@Phil Magness) 1639844418

Gregg Gonsalves — the author of The Nation article — reportedly emailed Collins to "thank" him for speaking out against the Great Barrington Declaration and for "doing it 'undiplomatically.'" Gonsalves also agreed in calling the GBD epidemiologists "fringe."

In the meantime, Gonsalves also gets in contact with Collins to volunteer his services (along with future @CDCDirector Rochelle Walensky) to attack the GBD in the media.\n\nCollins approves, and forwards it to Fauci and a bunch of NIH underlings.pic.twitter.com/UJ2t7C18AA
— Phil Magness (@Phil Magness) 1639844421

Fauci attacked the Great Barrington Declaration during an ABC News appearance on Oct. 15, 2020.

"That declaration has a couple things in it that I think are fooling people, because it says things that are like apple pie and motherhood," Fauci told ABC News. "A, we don't want to shut down the country. I say that all the time. B, we do certainly want to protect the vulnerable."

Fauci sent an email to White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Deborah Birx on Oct. 16, 2020.

"Over the past week I have come out very strongly publicly against the "Great Barrington Declaration,'" Fauci wrote, adding that he will "connect" with her "later today or over the weekend."

On the morning of the Covid task force meeting, Fauci sends Deborah Birx this email alerting her about the need to oppose the GBD at the meeting. The unredacted part suggests they are preparing to attack @ScottWAtlas, who was perceived as the task force's champion of the GBD.pic.twitter.com/iqYbiTiZxo
— Phil Magness (@Phil Magness) 1639844423

Who are the 'fringe' epidemiologists?

Collins described the authors of the Great Barrington Declaration as "fringe."

The three "fringe" epidemiologists are Martin Kulldorff, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Harvard University, Sunetra Gupta, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Oxford University, and Jay Bhattacharya, MD, Ph.D., a professor and public health policy expert at Stanford University.

Bhattacharya reacted to Collins' email by writing on Twitter, "So now I know what it feels like to be the subject of a propaganda attack by my own government. Discussion and engagement would have been a better path."

Kulldorff responded by saying, "A year ago, @NIHDirector Francis Collins asked Fauci to do a 'devastating published take down' of the Great Barrington Declaration. A public debate would have been better. Invitation still open."

Gupta has yet to issue a statement, but she retweeted the above statements made by colleagues.

Dr. Francis Collins attempts to defend his 'takedown'

The House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis said Collins "expressed deep concerns about the herd immunity strategy being advocated by these 'fringe epidemiologists.'"

Collins was asked about the "takedown" during a Fox News interview on Friday, to which he replied, "Well, OK, if it’s that specific. There were people [like] Scott Atlas that said don’t worry about this business of putting on masks or asking people to isolate themselves or stay distanced. Let it rip. Let this virus run through the country until everybody has had it, and we’ll have herd immunity.'"

Atlas — who was an advisor on former President Donald Trump's White House Coronavirus Task Force — does not show up as one of the prominent signatories on the Great Barrington Declaration website.

CDC director says Biden 'looking into' federal vaccine mandate — then issues major clarification



Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was forced to issue a correction late Friday after an interview on Fox News in which she admitted the Biden administration is exploring the possibility of a nationwide vaccine mandate.

What did she say on Fox News?

While speaking with Fox News anchor Bret Baier on "Special Report," Walensky admitted that she and President Joe Biden are "looking into" a federal vaccine mandate.

Baier asked, "Are you for mandating a vaccine on a federal level?"

"That's something that I think the administration is looking into. It's something that I think we are looking to see approval of from the vaccine," Walensky replied. "Overall, I think in general, I am all for more vaccination. But, I have nothing further to say on that except that we are looking into those policies."

Walenksy's eyebrow-raising comments came as the Biden administration aggressively pushes for Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

What was the correction?

After the Fox News interview, Walensky claimed on Twitter that she was not, in fact, referring to a nationwide vaccine mandate for all Americans, but for certain federal workers and private institutions.

"To clarify: There will be no nationwide mandate. I was referring to mandates by private institutions and portions of the federal government. There will be no federal mandate," she claimed.

@BerkeleyJr .@BerkeleyJr To clarify: There will be no nationwide mandate. I was referring to mandates by private in… https://t.co/cHFp3nNdxL

— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) 1627687301.0

However, it's not clear how Walensky's comments on Fox News could be interpreted as referring to "private institutions and portions of the federal government." Her comments had, after all, come directly in response to a question about whether the Biden administration will institute a federal vaccine mandate.

To Walensky's point, the Biden administration has not instituted a vaccine requirement for federal employees — yet.

Still, Biden announced new rules for federal workers this week meant to incentivize vaccination.

The Associated Press reported:

Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they've been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks — and to set an example for private employers around the country.

"If in fact you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work," Biden said Thursday.

CNN host pushes back on CDC director's call for vaccinated people to mask up: 'Why the hell do I have to pay the price for this?'



Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has been tasked with making the television rounds to justify her agency's decision Tuesday to reverse its mask guidelines.

In an interview with CNN's "New Day" Wednesday, the show's co-host grilled her, wanting to know "why the hell" vaccinated people should have to go back to wearing masks.

What happened?

Just two months ago, the CDC declared that vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks. But with the surge of the Delta variant, the agency flipped its recommendation and is now calling for vaccinated Americans to mask up indoors if they are in an area of the country with high or substantial transmission of COVID-19.

Critics of the CDC's move blasted the agency for offering what they viewed as essentially political advice, not health advice. And Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the onetime director of the Food and Drug Administration, called the newly issued guidelines "confusing" and said they would have a "negligible impact" on the Delta surge.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, naturally, defended the CDC's mask reversal and even said, "The CDC hasn't really flip-flopped at all."

When Walensky appeared on left-leaning CNN to promote her agency's latest move, she likely expected a fairly friendly back-and-forth.

What she got was probably a little more pushback from "New Day" co-host John Berman than she had hoped for.

"You can understand the frustration in those of us who are vaccinated saying, 'Why the hell do I have to pay the price for this?'" Berman asked.

Walensky, as has been her wont, offered a fairly unhelpful and uninformative answer.

.@CDCDirector Dr. Rochelle Walensky on the new mask guidance: "With prior variances, when people had these rare bre… https://t.co/G2Eg4hhPqY

— New Day (@NewDay) 1627473137.0

"Right," Walensky replied. “So we're asking everybody in those areas of orange and red to mask up. Here is the reason why — if you're a vaccinated person and you're in one of those areas, as you said, a sea of red, a sea of COVID, you have a reasonably high chance, if nobody is wearing a mask, to interact with people who may be infectious."

"Every 20 vaccinated people, one or two of them could get a breakthrough infection," she added. "They may only get mild disease, but we wanted them to know that they could bring that mild disease home. They could bring it to others."

Who are the "others"? One would assume that she's referring to people 12 and older who have chosen not to receive the vaccine — the very people for whom vaccinated folks like Berman don't want to have to "pay the price." They've chosen to go unvaxxed, let them deal, the thinking goes.

If Walensky's referring to kids, then she has some explaining to do: During that same interview, HotAir's Allahpundit noted, she admitted that the CDC has no evidence that the Delta variant is making children sicker than any prior variant.

Biden’s CDC Director on mask mandates for kids: “We don’t have any evidence” that the Delta variant makes kids sick… https://t.co/IEUzH7uV0j

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) 1627479184.0

(H/T: Mediaite)