CDC gets called out for new update on the J&J vaccine

Sounds scary, right? Now for the facts:

What is added by this report?

Five mass vaccination sites reported 64 anxiety-related events, including 17 events of syncope (fainting) after receipt of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. The reporting rates of syncope to VAERS after Janssen COVID-19 and influenza vaccines (2019–20) were 8.2 and 0.05 per 100,000 doses, respectively.

17 fainting events. Keep up the great work, guys:

CDC continues with the A+ messaging https://t.co/cEdC08GMZw

— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) April 30, 2021

Now, here’s how the AP wrote up this update. The tone is ENTIRELY different:

U.S. health officials conclude that it was anxiety, and not a problem with the coronavirus vaccine, that caused apparent reactions in dozens of people this month. Basically, some people get so upset by injections that their anxiety spurs physical symptoms. https://t.co/auxzd7iu2V

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 30, 2021

The CDC went on to brag about its transparency, etc.:

Findings in the new CDC MMWR show that #COVID19 vaccine safety monitoring systems are working as intended to detect adverse events, including those that do not generally meet criteria for being “serious.” Learn more: https://t.co/QcfPCviXPH.

— CDC (@CDCgov) April 30, 2021

Is the CDC broken?

Is the Biden administration purposefully trying to increase vaccine hesitancy? With takes like this, it would sure give ammo for the people saying YES! https://t.co/PUvetSyGFq

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 30, 2021

And maybe one of the stats experts on Twitter could weigh in, too:

I would like @NateSilver538 or some other stats person to weigh in on this. Can you actually compare getting the Covid vaccine to the flu vaccine? Yes, they're both shots but you don't wait in your car for 3 hours for the flu vaccine (and other differences) https://t.co/KsCuuEReki

— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) April 30, 2021

This does make sense as the circumstances with which they’re giving out COVID-19 jabs are entirely different than normal vaccines and we highly doubt they’re keeping an accurate tally of people who faint during flu vaccines:

This is interesting bc anecdotally folks I know who have problems with needles have chosen J&J bc it's one shot, which could explain the association
[Image in QT is a parking lot drive through vax site with small, widely spaced tents] https://t.co/Hud8LRdtWW

— disgaybled public health student (@science_enby) April 30, 2021

Do better, CDC:

Just stop. You are scaring people for a nothing burger, have you learned nothign?

— Craig Hohmann?? (@HohmannCraig) April 30, 2021

What are you even doing? (this comes from someone who has historically been a huge supporter)

— Paul Smith (@pauls551) April 30, 2021

What is wrong with you people?

— Oh, I went there! (@COProvencal) April 30, 2021

Do you consider the impact what you’re posting will have on people getting vaccines? I’m glad the information is available and I believe the CDC should be open about it, but there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to publicize something this insignificant that will be taken out of context.

— ??Trump is getting indicted?? (@BabyTrump45) April 30, 2021

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