N※N

NIH Director Accuses CDC of Data Distortion During Pandemic

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2026/ .. uses-cdc-of-data-distortion-during-pandemic.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, February 18th 2026 at 16:20 GMT by NBC Los Angeles
      Locales: District of Columbia, Georgia, California, UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 18, 2026) -- Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has significantly expanded upon his prior criticisms of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging systemic issues that prioritized political expediency over sound scientific principles and resulted in the active 'distortion' of crucial data. His comments, made during a series of interviews and a prepared statement released today, are fueling a national debate about the future of public health agencies and the necessity for radical transparency in crisis management.

Bhattacharya, who rose to prominence as a vocal advocate for focused protection - shielding the vulnerable while allowing broader societal function - during the height of the pandemic, now asserts that the CDC's failures weren't merely errors in judgment, but rather a pattern of behavior rooted in a desire to control the narrative. "It wasn't simply a case of getting things wrong," he explained in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press. "The problem was a deliberate bending of data to fit pre-conceived conclusions. This eroded public trust and ultimately hindered a more effective response."

His initial claims, first voiced in 2024, focused on the detrimental effects of widespread lockdowns and mask mandates, arguing they inflicted disproportionate harm on children, low-income communities, and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions. Today, he detailed specific instances where, he alleges, the CDC downplayed the effectiveness of natural immunity, overstated the risks of outdoor transmission, and selectively reported data on vaccine adverse events. Bhattacharya cited internal NIH analysis (recently declassified following a Freedom of Information Act request) that indicated a significant disparity between preliminary data regarding vaccine effectiveness in preventing transmission and the CDC's public statements at the time.

The timing of Bhattacharya's intensified criticism coincides with the Biden administration's ongoing restructuring of the CDC. The administration initiated the overhaul in late 2025, acknowledging the need for a more agile, transparent, and data-centric public health agency. However, Bhattacharya believes the current reforms don't go far enough. "A simple reorganization isn't sufficient," he stated. "We need a fundamental shift in the culture of the CDC. There needs to be an independent body, free from political interference, responsible for data collection, analysis, and dissemination."

He proposes the creation of a National Public Health Data Observatory, staffed by independent scientists and researchers, with the authority to audit the CDC's data and publish its findings without censorship. This observatory would also be responsible for developing and validating epidemiological models used for forecasting disease outbreaks, a practice Bhattacharya argues was often flawed and overly reliant on worst-case scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bhattacharya's views have resonated strongly with conservative commentators and lawmakers who have long questioned the CDC's authority. However, his criticism is also attracting support from some public health experts who acknowledge the need for greater transparency and accountability within the agency. Dr. Eleanor Vance, a former CDC epidemiologist, commented, "While I don't agree with all of Dr. Bhattacharya's conclusions, he is right to highlight the importance of rigorous data analysis and independent verification. The CDC needs to be more open to scrutiny and willing to admit mistakes."

The CDC has responded to Bhattacharya's criticism with a statement defending its pandemic response and asserting that all decisions were made based on the best available scientific evidence at the time. The statement also accused Bhattacharya of selectively presenting data and mischaracterizing the agency's actions. However, the agency has not addressed specific allegations of data distortion raised by Bhattacharya.

Looking ahead, Dr. Bhattacharya warns that unless significant reforms are implemented, the U.S. will be ill-prepared for the next inevitable public health crisis. "We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past," he cautioned. "The credibility of our public health agencies is at stake, and the health and well-being of the nation depend on our ability to learn from these experiences and build a more resilient and trustworthy system." The debate is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with congressional hearings scheduled to examine the CDC's performance and the proposed reforms.