| A series of messaging missteps is threatening the credibility of federal health agencies, and critics say the White House isn't doing enough to manage the fallout, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. Why it matters: While much of the unvaccinated population is unlikely to be persuaded by any messenger, large swaths of the public are still receptive to expert guidance, but federal health agencies, particularly the CDC, may be squandering their credibility with this population. - "The administration in general has lost the confidence of people who would be their natural supporters," said Celine Gounder, an infectious disease expert and former Biden administration advisory board member.
State of play: Months of convoluted guidance hit a breaking point over the winter holiday, when the CDC's new guidance on how long COVID patients should remain in isolation was mocked by thousands of internet meme-makers. - The CDC responded by saying the changing guidelines are motivated by "fast-moving science."
- "It's never good to be the butt of jokes," former CDC director Tom Frieden said in an interview.
Context: The CDC and the FDA also waited months to make booster shots available to all American adults. Those shots have proven especially important against Omicron, and many states, pharmacies and individual patients ignored the CDC's more limited initial recommendations. - Recommendations about masking have fallen flat for months.
The intrigue: Some sources tell Axios that they're concerned that the Biden administration is relying on too few voices to communicate with the public — particularly given growing distrust in a few key officials. - Yes, but: Health officials are trying to effectively communicate with a public that's exhausted from nearly two years of dealing with the pandemic, and the virus itself — along with our knowledge of it — is constantly evolving.
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