The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing criticism for its lack of transparency regarding the side effects and problems associated with its COVID-19 vaccines. A recent court order has forced the CDC to release hundreds of thousands of “free text” entries from V-safe, a system that allows individuals to report adverse reactions to the vaccine. The court has reprimanded the CDC for its attempts to withhold this information.
This case highlights the need to address the conduct of the government and the media during the previous pandemic. The CDC and the Biden White House are preparing for another potential pandemic, and it is crucial to learn from past mistakes. The culture of speech controls and censorship that took hold during the last pandemic must be addressed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) even supported censorship to combat what it called an “infodemic.” This attitude of silencing opposing views only served to undermine public trust in both the government and the media.
