The CDC literally cited mask scarcity for medical workers as a reason the public shouldn't get masks. The whole "CDC lied about masks being necessary" is bullshit. The difference between the CDC and the anti-vaxx crowd is the CDC makes decisions in the public interest and explains the rational behind their decision making.

>The CDC literally cited mask scarcity for medical workers as a reason the public shouldn't get masks.

As one of the reasons. They also (according to Time) gave the reason that they don't prevent you from getting Covid:

>The science, according to the CDC, says that surgical masks won’t stop the wearer from inhaling small airborne particles, which can cause infection.

>Doctors and health experts keep spreading the word. “Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!” tweeted Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General, on Feb. 29. “They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

https://time.com/5794729/coronavirus-face-masks/

You're still being dishonest when you leave out that THE CDC SAID AT THE TIME THAT THEIR CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BASED ON THE A AVAILABILITY OF MASKS TO MEDICAL WORKERS.

The CDC states what their rational is, they update their recommendations with new information, and they act in the public interest. Anti-vaxxers do none of those.

I don't think I left that out. I said "one of the reasons" the CDC gave was scarcity of masks for medical workers.

I also quoted "but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!"

So I don't think I was being dishonest.

Sibling commenter pointed out why this is wrong, but on a broader level, I don't understand the need to retcon the CDC's incompetence to score points against the anti-vaxxers. The anti-vaxx position is wrong whether or not the CDC is good at its job. The two questions are completely orthogonal.