In the past couple of weeks, I have received calls from 'universities' and 'the CDC' doing a survey on vaccines. Up until tonight, I would quickly state 'I'm not interested' and hang up. I decided to find out what in the hell they're looking for so I answered the call tonight that showed up on my caller ID as CDC. The lady stated she was doing a survey for the CDC to compile data on vaccines. She asked if I had anybody in my household under 4. I answered 'I live alone'. She then asked if I had anybody under the age of 18 in my household to which I answered 'I'm 67 years old and I live alone!' to which she said 'I understand. Is there anyone under the age of 18 in your household?' and I repeated my answer, a little more forcefully. Then she moved on to ask about respiratory vaccines for me. I interrupted her and asked her the purpose of these surveys, to which she stated that the CDC is gathering data on vaccines. I informed her that she is asking for my private medical information over the phone, which information used to be protected by Federal law but obviously no longer is. She said it was strictly voluntary and I said 'I don't care - it's intrusive and wrong!' and I hung up. What in the actual hell is going on??!!!! I have a very bad feeling about this latest wrinkle.
It’s likely NORC (National Opinion Research Center) out of the University of Chicago. They are reputable, as far as federal surveys go, affiliated with CDC. Been around for 80 years. They surveyor has to identify themselves by first and last name, and there are a lot of safetey measures in place to protect privacy. At least between the surveyed and surveyor. What the government does with that information…
I worked there briefly in my own state several years ago, and soon realized I hated telecommunications, and felt terrible asking people for that information. Surprisingly, many were willing to contribute. Doctors, med professionals, parent, all different sorts. Others definitely hated it and were quite abusive in response to receiving the call.
Since you’re in their particular zone now, you’ll keep getting calls until you request to be left of their list. You must say, I’d like to be put on your do not call list. Saying don’t call me again won’t work. The surveyors are trained to listen for the phrase “do not call list,” and trained to ignore anything similar.
NORC conducts a variety of surveys. The vaccine survey is one of them. That’s the one I was on. It was terrible. This was a couple years before 2020.
I know some people who liked that work and excelled at it, but it was definitely not for me.
@buendia Thanks for the info. I'll answer one more time to tell them to put me on their Do Not Call list.
Just don't answer the phone!
@warped I normally don't but I was waiting for a call from an IT guy that was out in the field so I didn't know what number to expect. The one from the CDC was clearly from them but I decided to find out what the heck they were up to so I answered. I my answer again just to tell them to put me on their Do Not Call list.