RFK Jr. influence questioned as CDC stalls vaccine findings while new COVID strain raises concerns across Texas, California, Florida, New York, and other states

Texas – A delayed federal health report is now fueling a new wave of concern and suspicion, as questions grow about whether politics is shaping science at one of the nation’s most important public health agencies—just as a new COVID variant begins spreading across multiple states.

The report, which examined how effective COVID-19 vaccines were in preventing hospital visits during last winter, had been expected to appear on March 19 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Instead, it was abruptly postponed after review by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was serving as acting CDC director while also leading the National Institutes of Health.

That delay has not gone unnoticed. Critics quickly pointed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine-skeptic secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, raising concerns about whether his influence played a role in holding back findings that could shape public understanding.

The report itself contained significant conclusions. According to a summary, vaccination reduced emergency room visits by about 50 percent and hospitalizations by 55 percent during the period studied. Yet despite those findings, concerns were raised over how the data was gathered.

Bhattacharya questioned the study’s reliance on observational data, a common method in public health that looks at real-world patient outcomes. He argued that randomized clinical trials would provide a more accurate picture, even though such trials are often difficult, expensive, and slow to conduct in real time.

Federal officials pushed back against the criticism, insisting the delay was part of a normal review process. Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said, “It’s routine for C.D.C. leadership to review and flag concerns about M.M.W.R. papers, especially relating to their methodology, leading up to planned publication.”

He added, “Dr. Bhattacharya expressed concerns about the observational method used in this study to calculate vaccine effectiveness, and the scientific team is working to address these concerns.”

Still, former agency officials and observers say the timing feels different. The delay comes during a politically sensitive period, with officials wary of reigniting heated debates over vaccines ahead of upcoming elections.

New variant emerges as uncertainty deepens

At the same time, a new COVID variant—known as BA.3.2 and nicknamed the “Cicada” variant—is quietly spreading across the country, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already tense situation.

The variant has now been detected in at least 25 to 27 states, including Texas, California, Florida, and New York. Though first identified in 2024, it remained largely unnoticed until it began spreading more widely last year, earning its nickname due to its long “underground” presence.

Health experts say the variant has mutated in ways that may make it harder for the body to fight off, potentially leading to longer-lasting infections. Early signs also suggest that children could be more vulnerable, raising concerns for families as the virus continues to evolve.

Despite its spread, the variant still accounts for a relatively small share of cases—about 7% based on wastewater data. Overall COVID activity remains low in many areas, including parts of Texas, where hospital visits and emergency room cases are trending downward.

But that has not eased concern among experts.

“In the laboratory setting the virus … is not as responsive to antibodies against it, which at least in theory could raise a concern about its potential to evade immunity or vaccines,” said Dr. Manish Naik. He added some reassurance, noting, “The good news is, most of the cases of COVID we see are still milder, meaning this variant doesn’t appear to cause any more severe disease than the other variants, at least in the data that’s come out so far.”

Even so, key questions remain unresolved. “Are the current vaccines effective, or do we need a new version of the vaccine to really protect against this new variant?” Naik said. “I think the jury is still out on that.”

Doctors are also seeing signs that respiratory illnesses this season are lingering longer than usual. “This year, we’re seeing more frequent chronic symptoms as well, so people come in with their respiratory infection and then they wind up having a cough that lasts for a lot longer,” said Dr. Nida Zakiullah. “It does seem to be a little bit more of a prolonged and more severe respiratory season than usual.”

In East Texas, officials say cases tied to the variant are beginning to rise slightly. George Roberts explained, “So what we’re seeing right now, we’re not seeing lots of cases via the cicada variant, but we are noticing that is on the uptick. So and so far, it does not to be, appear to be a variant that’s causing any more severe symptoms than the normal covid 19.”

A moment of tension between science and policy

Taken together, the delayed CDC report and the emergence of a new variant have created a moment filled with uncertainty. On one side, there are questions about whether scientific findings are being slowed or reshaped. On the other, a virus continues to change, raising fresh concerns about how well current defenses will hold.

Health experts continue to stress basic precautions—rest, hydration, staying home when sick, and keeping vaccinations up to date—even as they monitor how the situation unfolds.

“Based on the nature of how viruses work, this is pretty expected,” Zakiullah said. “All viruses tend to mutate with time, and we see new variants. We see the same thing with flu as well.”

For now, the Cicada variant remains a quiet but growing presence, while the delayed report lingers as a symbol of a deeper debate—one that sits at the uneasy intersection of science, policy, and public trust.