The CDC’s management and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic: A healthcare worker’s perspective
PLOS One·
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0354686
- PMID
- —
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- —
- Study type
- Commentary
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings are framed as informing future CDC messaging during outbreaks, recommending that communication be free from perceived political bias and grounded in evidence-based information shared with healthcare workers.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study investigated healthcare workers' perceptions of CDC management of the COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine recommendations, and explored how such views related to vaccination status.
Study design
An online cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in Pennsylvania conducted between August 2022 and February 2023.
Population and setting
580 healthcare workers aged 21 and older in Pennsylvania who reported their COVID-19 vaccination status and timing of first dose; the sample was 83% female and 92% White, with 71% providing direct care and 57% living in suburban areas.
Main findings
Healthcare workers reported mixed perceptions of CDC pandemic management and vaccine guidance. Positive views emphasized clear communication, a science-driven approach, and crisis response for management, and timely distribution, accessibility, affordability, and clear communication for vaccines. Criticisms centered on mask overregulation, politicization, and changing policies for management, and on mandates, politicization, perceived weak scientific basis, and inconsistent messaging for vaccines. In the sample, 85% had received at least one vaccine dose.
Public-health relevance
The findings are framed as informing future CDC messaging during outbreaks, recommending that communication be free from perceived political bias and grounded in evidence-based information shared with healthcare workers.
Important limitations
The abstract does not describe explicit study limitations; accordingly, this summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and bibliographic metadata, and the original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
This single article addresses healthcare workers' perceptions of pandemic guidance and vaccination messaging. It is not connected here to any live surveillance signal, and any discoverability or contextual use should be evaluated against current GIDS sources separately.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.