Burr: The CDC Has Got to Do Better

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on new data related to the spread of COVID-19 released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“I’m deeply concerned it took the CDC three days to publicly release formal data justifying its reasoning behind the updated COVID-19 guidance. 

“This data should have been released at the same time the updated guidance was announced, so Americans could review it for themselves and understand CDC’s reasoning. Without proper context, the CDC’s sudden announcement Tuesday sparked an air of panic. When asked repeatedly for more information, the agency either would not or could not provide the underlying data, even as media leaks sowed more confusion. The CDC has got to do better. 

“On Tuesday, they issued guidance affecting almost 74% percent of counties in this country. Today, CDC posted the data from one case study. We need more information.

“While the study provides new and concerning information on breakthrough infections, one of the biggest takeaways is that vaccines are working as they were designed to: in breakthrough cases, vaccines continue to largely prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Unfortunately, that message was lost amid the CDC’s botched rollout.

“The CDC has a responsibility to provide the American people with a clear, complete, and accurate picture of what we’re up against. It can’t wave away questions by saying, ‘Just trust us.’ CDC needs to trust the American people and provide them with clear information and available evidence so they can keep themselves and their families safe.” 

On Tuesday, Senator Burr released a statement reiterating his call for all eligible Americans to get vaccinated to end the pandemic.

In May, Senator Burr issued a report with recommendations for modernizing the CDC based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the full report here.