In an interview last week, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), implied that the COVID-19 vaccine could become an annual event like the flu shot. While some herald this as a measured response to an ever-changing virus, others question the rationale and its implications for personal liberties.
“We anticipate that COVID will become similar to flu shots, where it is going to be you get your annual flu shot, and you get your annual COVID shot,” Cohen told Spectrum News. Her statement raises eyebrows among those who question the need for and sustainability of annual COVID-19 vaccinations. This concern is valid as such a scheme not only places a heavy burden on the nation’s resources but also potentially infringes on the personal medical choices of citizens.
Good luck with that https://t.co/ju2QMAGX67
— Dr. Mark Young (@MarkYoungTruth) July 30, 2023
In addition, the faith Americans place in public health agencies, such as the CDC, has notably dipped during the pandemic. A recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health survey revealed that about a quarter of Americans have little-to-no trust in the CDC for health information. Cohen herself acknowledged that there were instances where “the CDC didn’t perform and execute in the way they needed to.”
In response to this trust deficit, Cohen said her approach would hinge on transparency. She also commented, “Just like we have a military to protect us here and around the world, we need a CDC that can protect us.” While her comparison resonates with the need for national security, it simultaneously draws attention to the controversial debate of health-related mandates and individual freedom, a debate that has become central in the era of COVID-19.
Despite Cohen’s statements, some political leaders remain skeptical about her appointment and the direction she may take the CDC. GOP lawmakers expressed concerns in a June letter to Joe Biden, accusing Cohen of politicizing science and spreading misinformation during her tenure as North Carolina’s state Health Secretary.
In light of these criticisms, the CDC’s plan to make annual COVID-19 vaccinations a norm might seem to some as an overreach or a misuse of public trust. Moreover, the proposal for a yearly COVID shot, assuming a continued state of emergency, could set a worrying precedent for public health interventions.
The path forward is undoubtedly complex, and Cohen’s approach will be closely scrutinized in the coming months. What is clear, though, is the need for strategies that not only aim to combat the virus but also secure the trust and cooperation of the American public while preserving the bedrock principles of liberty and personal choice.
