Pfizer reported 100% efficacy for its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12 to 15, a statistic critics argue is misleading given the low natural risk of severe illness in that demographic. Simultaneously, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned that younger Americans are at increased risk for death and long-term side effects due to a new surge. Media coverage has shifted toward portraying the virus as a "monster" targeting the unvaccinated youth.

