CDC Guidance Changes Yet Again, Now Pushes For Booster Shots

The CDC guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations changed yet again. From recommending that Americans complete two doses of COVID vaccines, they now suggest that people keep their vaccinations up to date.

This implies that Americans take up one or more booster shots on top of their completed vaccination.

RELATED: Scientists Say Most People Don’t Need COVID Booster Shots

CDC Guidance Is Pushing For Booster Shots

In an apparent attempt to push Americans into getting a booster shot, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tweaked their guidance yet again.

Starting this week, the updated CDC guidance now wants Americans to keep their COVID vaccinations up to date. Previously, the CDC guidance only recommended that Americans complete their vaccine program.

This meant either two shots of  Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or a single shot from Johnson & Johnson. Now, the ‘up-to-date’ standard is pertaining to adding a booster shot on top of the completed vaccination.

Currently, the CDC guidance now recommends booster shots for those aged 12 and older 5 months after completing their vaccination.

However, the New York Times reported that the CDC denied changing its definition of full vaccination. Instead, the agency changed its emphasis on the appropriate regimen.

This meant tweaking the definition of how it referred to the vaccine shots. In this case, the ‘up-to-date’ vaccination should include three doses of Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Or, that Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients should take a second dose, preferably from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna. 

Change in Wording Has Far-Reaching Effects

However, the change in wording leads to a substantial impact on how Americans should treat their vaccinations. In fact, Dr. Marty Makary of Johns Hopkins University said that the manipulation has profound effects.

This “implies that low-risk people without a booster are out-of-date,” he tweeted. This also “sets the stage for boosters,” he added. COVID vaccinations “are not software,” Makary dryly remarked.  

Makary predicted earlier in December that the CDC guidance will shift from recommending full vaccination to Americans to staying ‘up to date on shots.

He said that this makes sense for high-risk Americans such as those over 65 who have yet to contract COVID. “But for younger folks, there’s no evidence to support getting a booster dose,” he noted. 

‘Upsetting To Witness’

In addition, Makary wondered if pharmaceutical companies are now calling the shots in the fight against COVID.

He noted that the CDC is now recommending booster shots for younger Americans aged 16 and 17. Now, colleges are planning to require boosters for students. 

He said that it’s insane to require booster shots to young, low-risk, and healthy students who already had COVID. He warned of “unintended harm from that indiscriminate booster recommendation.” 

Meanwhile, Dr. Nicole Saphier, director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering, also weighed in. “The CDC changing verbiage from ‘fully vaccinated’ to ‘up to date’ is a manipulation of words,” she said.

This can “influence behavior while failing to admit immunity/protection are not binary. There will be consequences of heedless measures using selective data. It’s upsetting to witness,” she added. 

Watch the We Are Iowa Local 5 News video reporting that CDC urges ‘up to date' COVID shots; no change to ‘fully vaccinated' definition:

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What do you think of the changing CDC guidance that now implies a need for booster shots? As low-risk individuals, do you agree to this recommendation? Why do you think this is good or otherwise?

Let us know what you think about the current CDC guidance as well as booster shots. Share your comments below.