The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised its definition of vaccine and vaccination on one of its websites, saying the new definition is “more transparent” and cannot be misinterpreted.
“While there have been slight wording changes over time in the definition of ‘vaccine’ on the CDC website, these have not affected the overall definition,” a CDC spokesman told The Epoch Times in the mail. electronic.
“The definition before Immunization Basics | It could be interpreted that the CDC means that vaccines are 100% effective, which has never been the case with any vaccine, so the current definition is more transparent and also describes the ways in which vaccines can be administered. “
Between 2015 and August 31, 2021, a vaccine was defined as “a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity against a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease” and vaccination is be “the act of introducing a vaccine to produce immunity against a specific disease.”
Earlier versions of a vaccine definition also included “immunity” in its definition.
The new definition of the vaccine now says, “a preparation used to stimulate the body’s immune response to disease,” while vaccination is the act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce protection against a specific disease. “.
Supporters of the CDC revision say it is natural to revise the definition as science evolves, but opponents say the changes have nothing to do with the evolution of science. Rather, the CDC is conducting the review in response to current COVID-19 vaccines being less effective against the Delta variant.
Emmy-winning investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson said the new definition was made to “meet the declining capacity of some of the current” vaccines, “including the COVID-19 vaccine,” and add that “after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, and it was found that they did not necessarily” prevent disease “or” provide immunity, “the CDC again modified the definition of vaccines to say that they simply” produce protection. ” “.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) Took to Twitter about the CDC’s change of definition and compared it to George Orwell’s 1984 writing, “They’ve been busy in the ministry of truth.”
Take a look @CDCgovThe evolutionary definition of “vaccination.” The following have been employed in the Ministry of Truth: pic.twitter.com/4k2xf8rvsL
– Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 8, 2021
The CDC did not respond to a request for comment for press time.
According to the CDC, on Aug. 30, the effectiveness of vaccines in keeping people out of the hospital dropped by 75 to 95 percent. vaccines are still effective against serious diseases.
Several studies have found that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines decreases. An ongoing study in the United States found that the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine dropped from 91% to 66% after the Delta variant became dominant in the country. A different study said advanced infections increased to 25 percent of all infections in Los Angeles County between May 1 and July 25.
Israel, with the highest vaccination rates in the world, will administer a fourth dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to its citizens after offering a third booster shot to people over 12 in August. The country with more than nine million inhabitants and more than 5 million fully vaccinated is experiencing the fourth wave. More than 2.7 million Israelis received the third dose on September 8.
The CDC’s updated definition of vaccine and vaccination is the same as in Merriam-Webster, who had revised the words earlier this year in February to include messenger RNA vaccines.
In January 2021, Merriam-Webster still defined a vaccine as “a preparation of dead microorganisms, attenuated living organisms, or fully virulent living organisms that are administered to artificially produce or increase immunity to a particular disease.”
The “old” definition of vaccine can still be found in other online dictionaries, including the Oxford languages.
“It is also important to note that modifications to the definition of‘ vaccine ’do not change the fact that vaccines and the act of vaccination have prevented millions of diseases and saved countless lives,” the CDC spokesman said.
Meiling Lee is a health reporter for The Epoch Times.