HHS misrepresented science of COVID

In the United States, House Republicans have released a report that criticizes the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccination advertising campaign, known as "We Can Do This." The report, compiled by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, outlines various failures by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlighting a disconnect between the communicated efficacy of vaccines and public trust. It emphasizes a lack of transparency and effective communication by health authorities, particularly during the rise of the delta variant, which reduced vaccine effectiveness. The campaign cost over $900 million and included emotionally charged advertisements that allegedly instigated fear in the public, especially targeting vulnerable groups like parents of young children. Criticism is centered on the misleading nature of these ads which contributed to an erosion of trust in public health messaging, adversely affecting vaccination efforts for other diseases. The report calls for significant reforms within the CDC to address its handling of the pandemic and restore public confidence in health guidance. Subcommittee leaders expressed that this report represents an initial effort to hold health organizations accountable for their pandemic response and improve their operational transparency moving forward.