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WAR ON WOMEN: Internet furious after CDC covertly changes 'pregnant women' to 'pregnant people'

Experts caution that using neutral terminology while providing gender-specific health advice complicates the message

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has covertly removed the terms "women" and "woman" from their recommendations on flu vaccinations while pregnant. People are undoubtedly furious about this change and have called it "nonsense."

When the CDC website was changed in August of last year, all gender-specific terminology, including "she," "her," and "mother," were removed, according to DailyMail.com. They have been either completely removed or changed to the gender-neutral pronouns "pregnant people" or "their." There was "no logical scientific reason," according to the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), and it was "clearly a political move." 

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This is the most recent instance of CDC medical advice that has been gender-neutralized in an effort to better include transgender people. However, experts caution that using neutral terminology while providing gender-specific health advice complicates the message, especially for individuals who are vulnerable or for whom English is not their first language.

Many Twitter users have voiced their opinions, with one writing, "It's dangerous and pathetic!! We are women. Stop with this nonsense." A second person tweeted, "This is dangerous. Things effect men and women differently, changing words from women to pregnant people stops women from knowing if it is about them or not. It should be illegal."

A third individual wrote, "This makes me so angry. Women’s words are so important in our health care. Especially when pregnant. @DrKarleenG and others have written about the importance of sexed-language." Added another individual, "Prenatal care is already lacking. We are going backwards here!"

This change comes at a time when the US is experiencing its worst flu outbreak in 13 years as a result of an exceptionally early and vigorous outbreak, according to data. There have already been close to 900,000 cases, 7,000 hospitalizations, and 360 fatalities.

For pregnant women, who have a considerably higher chance of developing a serious illness, the flu vaccine is especially crucial. The time while a fetus is developing inside a woman's uterus is referred to as "pregnancy." A trans man may sometimes get pregnant if he decides to keep his womb and reproductive organs.

The immune system can be weakened during pregnancy, increasing the likelihood that a woman will need to be hospitalized if she contracts the flu. Experts have expressed concern that Americans' resistance to the flu has deteriorated significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.