Source: Racket News
by Matt Taibbi
“Call it the ‘propaganda two-step.’ A corporate or political actor makes dubious claim X, which quickly appears as stronger claim X +1 in headlines. Insinuation married to exaggeration creates deception. With the two-step, neither party is fully responsible for the end claim. In May of last year, an observational study concluded Pfizer’s ubiquitous Covid-19 treatment Paxlovid was ‘associated with a decreased risk’ of hospitalization or death. A short time later, in the January 4th New York Times story, ‘Paxlovid Cuts Covid Death Risk. But Those Who Need It Are Not Taking It,’ the same study was cited to make the claim that Paxlovid is ‘stunningly effective in preventing severe illness and death.’ It was a classic example of two-stage exaggeration. Matt Bivens is in a unique position to see both ends of the construction of medical misconceptions. He entered the workforce as a journalist.” (04/15/24)
https://www.racket.news/p/q-and-a-dissecting-paxlovids-lifesaving