AFLDS submits complaint to YouTube after CDC video suggests COVID shot carries heart inflammation risk

America's Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) has submitted a formal complaint to YouTube that statements by CDC officials on the CDC's YouTube channel violate YouTube’s COVID-19 medical misinformation policy that explicitly prohibits “Claims about COVID-19 vaccinations that contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or WHO [World Health Organization] … Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will cause death …”

The complaint centers around statements by CDC officials during a CDC committee meeting, viewable on YouTube, that the risk of heart inflammation (myocarditis) following administration of the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is high enough to warrant lengthening the amount of time between doses.

Neither the CDC nor YouTube, a subsidiary of Google LLC, have responded to requests for comments on this article as of its publication.

The full text of the complaint by AFLDS follows:

YouTube

To whom it may concern,

This video contains statements by CDC officials that appear to violate YouTube’s COVID-19 medical misinformation policy. That policy specifically states: “YouTube doesn't allow content that spreads medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities’ (LHA) or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) medical information about COVID-19. This is limited to content that contradicts WHO or local health authorities’ guidance on:

• Treatment 
• Prevention …

“Don’t post content on YouTube if it includes any of the following:

• Claims about COVID-19 vaccinations that contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or WHO
• Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will cause death, 

“Examples  

“Here are some examples of content that’s not allowed on YouTube:

“Claims that the COVID-19 vaccine will kill people who receive it … 

“If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an email to let you know … We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation. You can learn more about channel or account terminations here.”

This video, posted on February 10, 2022, is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’ February 4, 2022 online meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

In that meeting, as recorded at the 1:16.53 mark of this video, Dr. Nicola Klein of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center reads from and displays a slide stating, 

“Among 18-39-year-olds, both mRNA vaccines were associated with increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in the 0-7 days post-vaccination, particularly after dose 2. We estimated 22.4 excess cases per million second doses after Pfizer and 31.2 excess cases per million second doses after Moderna.” [Emphases added].

At the 1:47:54 mark, Dr. Sara Oliver, an epidemic intelligence service officer for the CDC, begins reads from and presents a slide stating,

“Rates of myocarditis/pericarditis were lower with extended interval (≥8 weeks) between the first and second dose of mRNA vaccine primary series” 

At the 1:54:26 mark, Dr. Oliver reads from and presents a slide stating,

“Safety:  Lowest rates of myocarditis with interval at 8 weeks … ” 

At the 1:57:15 mark, Dr. Oliver reads from and presents a slide stating,

“The Work Group supported a preferred interval of 8 weeks between the first and second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series” [Emphasis in original slide].

At the 1:57:36 mark, Dr. Oliver reads from and presents a slide asking,

“What does ACIP think about an extended interval between the first and second doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series?

“What time frame does ACIP think would be preferred for the interval between the first and second doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series?

At the 2:00:04 mark, Dr. Matthew Daley, a senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, stated,

“I’m in favor of extending intervals and doing so provides benefits to the recipients of Pfizer vaccine and also provides benefits to the recipients of Moderna vaccine … I prefer an eight week interval.”

At the 2:01:28 mark, Dr. Pablo Sanchez, Professor of Pediatrics, the Ohio State University, states, 

“I would favor an extended interval especially among the younger male individuals because of the association with myocarditis and, we really, this is an age group in general that does not have severe infection…” [Emphasis added].

As this video meeting was summed up by NBC News,

“Members of the group, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, largely supported extending the recommended interval between the first two doses of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to eight weeks.”

This video is, thus, clearly contradicting WHO guidelines, and therefore YouTube guidelines, in at least three ways:

1. Dr. Daley’s statement, above, that he’s “in favor of extending intervals and doing so provides benefits to the recipients of Pfizer vaccine and also provides benefits to the recipients of Moderna vaccine… I prefer an eight week interval” contradicts the WHO’s position on intervals, which states:

“an interval of 21–28 days (3–4 weeks) between doses is recommended by WHO.” [Emphases added].

2. Dr. Sanchez’s above statement that, “younger male individuals … this is an age group in general that does not have severe infection…” contradicts the WHO’s position on the danger of COVID-19 to young people, which states:

“The World Health Organization states that the coronavirus Covid-19 is dangerous for young people and people who lead healthy lifestyle. It is reported by Interfax news agency with the reference to the representative of WHO Margaret Harris. At present, we are seeing an increase in the sickness of a younger age and note that the symptoms and course of the disease are quite serious for them. In particular, we know that among the sick, there are people with potentially good health, for example, athletes and people leading a healthy lifestyle", Harris said. [Emphases added].

3. Dr. Klein’s above statement combined with the Mayo Clinic’s website’s description of the dangers of myocarditis, contradicts the WHO’s position that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for all age groups: 

a. Dr. Klein stated at the 1:16.53 mark of this video, 

“Among 18-39-year-olds, both mRNA vaccines were associated with increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in the 0-7 days post-vaccination, particularly after dose 2. We estimated 22.4 excess cases per million second doses after Pfizer and 31.2 excess cases per million second doses after Moderna.” [Emphases added]. 

b. The Mayo Clinic’s website states that,

“Usually, myocarditis goes away without permanent complications. However, severe myocarditis can permanently damage your heart muscle, possibly causing: Heart failure … Heart attack or stroke … Rapid or irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) … Sudden cardiac death.” [Emphases added].

c. The WHO’s website states,

“mRNA vaccines have been rigorously assessed for safety … 

“Safety of COVID-19 vaccines for different groups

“COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in large, randomized controlled trials that include people of a broad age range, all sexes, different ethnicities, and those with known medical conditions … Vaccines have been found to be safe and effective in people with various underlying medical conditions that are associated with increased risk of severe disease. [Emphasis added].

We ask that you terminate the YouTube channel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as provided in your above quoted COVID-19 medical misinformation policy which states: “We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse.”