Why Was the Study Delayed?
The paper was originally expected to appear in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), one of the agency's most influential scientific publications.
However, publication was halted after concerns were raised by acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya questioned the study's methodology, arguing that it relied on assumptions that could potentially skew the results. Specifically, he suggested that factors such as prior infections and differences in individual behavior could make it difficult to accurately measure vaccine effectiveness.
Rather than continue through an extended review process, the researchers ultimately chose to submit their work to an independent peer-reviewed journal. The study was later accepted and published by JAMA Network Open.
