Obama, Bush And Clinton Will Get On-Camera Covid-19 Vaccine To Boost Public Confidence As Trump Remains Silent

Plus: Mnuchin: Trump Will Sign McConnell’s New Stimulus Proposal Without Checks Or State And Local Aid

TOPLINE

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have each volunteered to receive their Covid-19 vaccine in public and on-camera in a bid to boost shaky public confidence in the vaccines’ safety, which has been undermined by their speedy development and months of politicization on both sides of the aisle. 

KEY FACTS

The three most recent former presidents have said they want to do their part to address the significant problem of vaccine hesitancy in the U.S., and encourage the public to go out and get vaccinated against Covid-19 when the Food and Drug Administration has authorized one, which it is expected to do so in the coming days and weeks.

Obama told SiriusXM’s Joe Madison that he understands why the African American community in particular would be wary of getting a jab, pointing to the long history of exploitation by medical establishments, such as in the notorious Tuskegee syphilis study.

“The fact of the matter is, is that vaccines are why we don't have... diseases [like polio, smallpox and measles] that used to decimate entire populations and communities," Obama said.

"I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science, and what I don't trust is getting Covid," Obama added.

CNN reports that President Bush has reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Deborah Birx, who coordinates the White House Covid-19 task force, to “gladly” get his vaccine on camera once it is proven safe and given to priority populations.

President Clinton’s press secretary confirmed that he, too, would take a vaccine when made available to him according to public health priorities, and would be happy to “do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same.” 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

In the coming weeks and months, it is likely high profile figures will be stepping forward to get their vaccines in public. There are already reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was hospitalized with Covid-19 early on in the pandemic, is planning to do so.  

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