FDA vs CDC vs "the science" vs. wisdom

Last update: Friday 9/24/21

The advisory panel of experts for the CDC recently recommended booster shots, but their recommendations contained substantial differences from the recommendations submitted by the advisory panel of experts for the FDA a few days before. There was also considerable disagreement among the experts on each panel. Fortunately, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, immediately modified the recommendations of the CDC panel so as to bring them into substantial agreement with the FDA recommendations. She made the modifications in order to avoid paralyzing confusion among potential booster recipients and booster administrators, e.g., hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care providers -- as to who was or was not qualified to receive the shots.

• "F.D.A. Authorizes Pfizer Booster Shots for Older and At-Risk Americans", Noah Weiland and Sharon LaFraniere, NY Times, 9/22/21  
• Federal Panel Recommends Booster Shots, Opening New Campaign Against the Virus"", Apoorva Mandavilli and Benjamin Mueller, NY Times, 9/24/21 
• "C.D.C. Chief Overrules Agency Panel and Recommends Pfizer-BioNTech Boosters for Workers at Risk", Apoorva Mandavilli and Benjamin Mueller, NY Times, 9/14/21   

It's important to note that the substantial differences of opinions within and between the scientific panels implied that there was insufficient data to raise any resulting recommendations to the levels of certainty that are the defining hallmarks of any branch of the extensive bodies of knowledge we call "science", nor should this surprise anyone. Science achieves its certainty through a rigorous slow moving process of hypothesis, data collection, analysis, findings, peer review, publication, and multiple follow-up studies that confirm (or deny) the original findings. 

Events in our total war against the coronavirus are moving much faster than the speed of science. So our pandemic commanders find themselves caught up in the same kind of "fog of war" that envelopes our military commanders in our wars against other nations, and for the same reasons: insufficient reliable data. Their most important decisions must therefore be based on prior experience and good judgement, i.e., on wisdom. And they must have the courage to make these decisions with the understanding that subsequent events may prove that their decisions failed to achieve their intended objectives. Fortunately for our nation, Dr. Walensky has just shown the required wisdom and courage.