Do you think the CDC is biased?

Nurses Education

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I almost got myself embroiled in an argument over the possible risks of flu shot and pregnancy this afternoon. (Luckily I decided it wasn't worth the time and bowed out.) Anyway I was informed that the "CDC is biased and paid to say that" when I attempted to actually reference my sources on Thimerosal.

Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Oncology.

I don't think the CDC is biased. I just don't see how it would benefit them to be. It's a government organization, and maybe I'm too trusting, but I overall think the government wants a healthy population.

I'm not sure what the specifics of the argument were, but there are many preservative free flu shots if someone wants to get the vaccine while pregnant. My hospital only offers the preservative free variety.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

dont trust a blonde...just kidding, but yes the CDC is biased. The pharmaceutical industry is very profitable and has alot of influence on the CDC.

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Specializes in Health Information Management.
dont trust a blonde...just kidding, but yes the CDC is biased. The pharmaceutical industry is very profitable and has alot of influence on the CDC.

Before I'll buy that, I'd like some hard proof from creditable sources. I have my doubts about the FDA where Big Biz is concerned, but I've never read anything about a genuinely and consistently biased CDC. There are conflicts over new illnesses, like chronic fatigue syndrome, but that's to be expected in such an organization.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
dont trust a blonde...just kidding, but yes the CDC is biased. The pharmaceutical industry is very profitable and has alot of influence on the CDC.

Evidence?

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, PACU, Med-Surg.

Like another poster mentioned there are preservative-free vaccines available. They are the only ones our facility provides. While I can certainly understand not wanting to inject any amount of mercury into my pregnant body, no matter WHO says it's safe enough, I would like to see some credible accounts of the CDC being biased.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I guess even if the CDC is biased in some ways, there isn't an organization whose advice I would trust more on an issue such as influenza vaccination.

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While money has always bought influence and always will...my guess is that the bias has more to do with degree than a falsity of the underlying information. In other words maybe the warning is shouted louder and harder as a result of the influence of the money and power of big pharma, but the warning itself is true. Or maybe the ramifications of NOT following XYZ advice are somewhat blown out of proportion because the more we hyperbolize the ramifications the more people will "get the shot". Thoughts?

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Evidence?

2003 Pres. Bush's smallpox vaccination fiasco.

This project did not have the full support of the IOM and ACIP. And then there's the Cutter/Salk vaccine that is well documented in history. Those are the two the stick in my mind but there were others. A time frame pressure, budget and research sources can skew information and the delivery.

Since there have been other muckups in the history of vaccinations, the CDC is not the only organization involved.

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Specializes in FNP.

I think they are biased toward population health vs. individuals, which is why people get all twisted. I understand the argument that all vaccines are not good for all persons, for example, and I think it has merit. However, the CDC is charged with the public health, and an individual's egg allergy or hx of adverse reactions is immaterial to them. This is as it should be. I do not think they are corrupt, as I infer from some comments. Now, the FDA on the ohter hand, totally different ballgame. I'd trust the mafia further.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
2003 Pres. Bush's smallpox vaccination fiasco.

This project did not have the full support of the IOM and ACIP. And then there's the Cutter/Salk vaccine that is well documented in history. Those are the two the stick in my mind but there were others. A time frame pressure, budget and research sources can skew information and the delivery.

Since there have been other muckups in the history of vaccinations, the CDC is not the only organization involved.

I thought that was political. I honestly chalked that up to poor leadership, not influence of big pharma.

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IMHO the CDC is not biased, but they are certainly not looking out for the people but for their pocketbooks.

They are funded by the government who is lobbied by big pharm.

Pharmaceutical companies want you to get their vaccines whether you need them or not, and the CDC is simply their mouth piece.

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