CDC blocks publication of study showing COVID vaccine reduced hospital visits
scienceApr 22, 2026223,132
Acting CDC director halted and then blocked the agency from publishing an internal study showing last winter's COVID-19 vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations by roughly 50%. The study had been slated for the CDC's in-house journal but faced initial delays before the director prevented publication entirely. The analysis used last winter's surveillance data to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes. Blocking the report keeps a CDC estimate of substantial vaccine protection out of the public record while federal officials finalize booster guidance.
Key Highlights
Acting CDC director blocked publication of an internal vaccine effectiveness study.
Study found last winter's COVID vaccine cut ER visits and hospitalizations by roughly 50%.
The agency prevented its in-house journal from publishing the report entirely.