Viewers of CBS Mornings who click through to the program’s “Deals” offerings this month are finding discounts on everything from home health monitors to seasonal apparel — a lineup that now sits beside frequent CBS reporting on changing COVID-19 vaccine guidance and pharmacy availability. The juxtaposition has drawn attention from consumer advocates and public health experts who warn that commercial promotions embedded in news brands can blur lines between vetted medical information and consumer marketing at a moment of heightened public confusion about who should get the latest COVID shot.

CBS News promotes “exclusive discounts” on a dedicated page and during morning segments, and the network’s disclosures note that some links are affiliate-based. “We curate offers that we believe our audience will find useful and we disclose affiliate relationships,” a CBS News spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Editorial coverage of health topics remains separate and grounded in reporting and public-health guidance.”

Still, public-health communicators say the proximity matters. Recent CBS segments this month underscored evolving federal guidance and inconsistent availability of the updated COVID-19 vaccine at major pharmacies — stories that many viewers rely on for actionable health decisions. For people with limited resources, the dual message of “where to get care” and “here’s an affordable device” can feel helpful, but it can also create the impression that consumer products are a substitute for professional medical advice.

“A trusted news outlet wields real influence,” said a public-health ethicist who reviewed the program and requested anonymity to speak frankly. “When consumer offers and medical guidance occupy the same branded space, there needs to be very clear separation and contextual information about what’s evidence-based care versus a retail purchase.”

Equity advocates also raise concerns about who benefits from these deals. Lower-income and rural communities, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified as facing barriers to vaccination and health services, often depend on discounted goods and on local pharmacies for care. If morning-show promotions favor products sold through certain retailers or affiliate partners, those with limited options may receive uneven access to truly critical resources like free vaccination clinics, interpreters, or transportation assistance.

Consumer advocacy groups reviewed the affiliate disclosures and urged networks to do more to protect viewers. “Audiences should know when a news brand is steering them toward paid products and when it’s pointing them to services that are free or clinically validated,” a spokesperson for a national consumer group said. “Especially during public-health transitions, transparency is a public-safety issue.”

Policy experts say the regulatory landscape is evolving but imperfect. Federal guidelines require clear disclosure of paid promotions, yet they do not address the broader public-health context in which those messages are received. Local public-health officials suggested that media outlets could mitigate risk by embedding links to official vaccine eligibility guidance and lists of free clinics alongside any health-related deals.

For now, viewers navigating both vaccine confusion and a flood of deals are urged to consult their primary care providers or local health departments for eligibility and access questions rather than relying on product pages. As newsrooms seek new revenue streams, the balance between commercial survival and the ethical duty to inform becomes not just a newsroom decision but a public-health concern for communities already facing unequal access to care.