CDC blocks publication of study showing COVID vaccine reduced hospital visits

Acting CDC director halted and then blocked the agency from publishing an internal study showing last winter's COVID-19 vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations by roughly 50%. The study had been slated for the CDC's in-house journal but faced initial delays before the director prevented publication entirely. The analysis used last winter's surveillance data to estimate vaccine effectiveness against severe outcomes. Blocking the report keeps a CDC estimate of substantial vaccine protection out of the public record while federal officials finalize booster guidance.