Calls from the CDC?

[Anonymous]

Anyone else getting calls from the CDC to take a survey on the minors in their home and the status of their vaccinations?

I'm not answering but it's a little disturbing given everything going on there now. FWIW I am in DC.

[Anonymous]

I got this one year. It freaked me out a little bit but then I did some research (including talking to our pediatrician and looking at some CDC webpages, maybe like this one https://www.cdc.gov/nis/about/index.html) and it seemed both legit and important so I went ahead and did it. Granted that was back when the CDC was run by scientists and not political hacks....

[Anonymous]

I don’t answer calls from random #s so no.

[Anonymous]

National Immunization Survey is a long running annual survey that produces important data. Please respond if you are sampled.

[Anonymous]

I got these calls last year and I participated. It was a really long survey that included questions about contact information for our doctor. They've been calling again this year and I don't want to participate again. It's just too much.

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, I did! It’s legit. I studied survey methodology so I’m always interested in surveys. You don’t have to participate, obviously, but it’s a real study.

It’s very hard to get a good sample these days.

I also got sampled for the American Community Survey (the really important, longer one from Census) and idk if that was related. TBH I don’t know the rules on that.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy doing the surveys and it's so important to the statistics that underpin policy.

[Anonymous]

I used to do CDC phone surveys as a college student in the late 80s. What a nightmare — some people are not nice! But yes, they are 100% legit and provide important health information.

By picking the numbers randomly, the researchers try to ensure that the surveys avoid any bias that might come from asking people to reach out and answer a survey. (Eg, the “type of person willing to helpfully answer a survey” could be correlated with things like general “behavior that’s helpful to a group,” which here might make it look like more people are in favor of vaccines than a completely random sample.) Don’t know how it works these days, but because of the randomness factor they tried very hard to follow through once a number was randomly chosen. If we part-time employees couldn’t get it done after several tries, we kicked it up to management for even more attempts.

[Anonymous]

I answer and tell them to shut the f up then hang up and block.

[Anonymous]

Why are all you people answering calls from unknown numbers? You know your phone tells you who is calling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to do CDC phone surveys as a college student in the late 80s. What a nightmare — some people are not nice! But yes, they are 100% legit and provide important health information.

By picking the numbers randomly, the researchers try to ensure that the surveys avoid any bias that might come from asking people to reach out and answer a survey. (Eg, the “type of person willing to helpfully answer a survey” could be correlated with things like general “behavior that’s helpful to a group,” which here might make it look like more people are in favor of vaccines than a completely random sample.) Don’t know how it works these days, but because of the randomness factor they tried very hard to follow through once a number was randomly chosen. If we part-time employees couldn’t get it done after several tries, we kicked it up to management for even more attempts.

Today you get the bias of people who have landlines. And answer them. I don't think the venn diagram is great intersected with people who have kids and will answer questions on vax.

[Anonymous]

The current administration is trying to destroy fact-based decision making. One very tiny way you can oppose that is by participating in surveys that provide the data that can inform sensible public health policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoy doing the surveys and it's so important to the statistics that underpin policy.

True when policy was based on facts. Now, who knows?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to do CDC phone surveys as a college student in the late 80s. What a nightmare — some people are not nice! But yes, they are 100% legit and provide important health information.

By picking the numbers randomly, the researchers try to ensure that the surveys avoid any bias that might come from asking people to reach out and answer a survey. (Eg, the “type of person willing to helpfully answer a survey” could be correlated with things like general “behavior that’s helpful to a group,” which here might make it look like more people are in favor of vaccines than a completely random sample.) Don’t know how it works these days, but because of the randomness factor they tried very hard to follow through once a number was randomly chosen. If we part-time employees couldn’t get it done after several tries, we kicked it up to management for even more attempts.

Today you get the bias of people who have landlines. And answer them. I don't think the venn diagram is great intersected with people who have kids and will answer questions on vax.

DP but I mean, yes, clearly random digit dialing has bias problems. It does include cell phones now.

The researchers may combine random digit dialing with other methods of sampling or the use of a panel. They will also be checking their responses and perhaps over sampling for groups that are underrepresented. And they will also go on the back end and try to adjust their data for response biases they think they can find.

It’s really hard to do! A young, but important science.

[Anonymous]

I hope they call me. I have a LOT to say to them about the recent events and destroying USA public health since January 2025.
Please call me, CDC!! I have suggestions for ya!