Hoping to assuage fears that a coronavirus vaccine might be unsafe, three former U.S. presidents say they have volunteered to be publicly inoculated in a coordinated effort to demonstrate that it’s safe.
Aides for former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush told CNN on Wednesday that the 42nd and 43rd presidents have committed to receiving the vaccine in public, and former President Barack Obama will pledge to do the same in a radio interview set to air Thursday.
Freddy Ford, Bush’s chief of staff, said Bush came up with the idea by contacting Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, and Dr. Deborah Birx, the U.S. special representative for global health diplomacy and U.S. global AIDS coordinator, about promoting a vaccine.
Clinton’s press secretary, Angel Urena, said the former president and Arkansas governor is willing to receive his vaccine “in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same.”
Obama made a similar commitment in an interview on SiriusXM radio.
“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,” he said in a clip of the interview airing Thursday.
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will meet next week to make a recommendation as to whether a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech should be given emergency use authorization. The companies have said late-stage clinical trials showed the vaccine is 95% effective at blocking the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The British government approved the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said its distribution, as well as that for a competing vaccine from Moderna, could begin before Christmas.
Clinton, Bush and Obama hope images of them receiving a vaccine will disperse some skepticism about the safety of a coronavirus vaccine.
A study in October said only about half of Americans are “extremely,” “moderately” or “slightly likely” to take a COVID-19 vaccine that meets FDA standards. Gallup said last month a survey showed that just 58% of Americans said they would be inoculated and 42% said they would not. An earlier Gallup poll found that half of respondents said they would refuse a vaccine.
Skepticism is also significant among persons of color. Gallup found that just 48% of non-Whites said they would take a vaccine, even though COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities.
“I understand you know historically … why the African American community, would have some skepticism,” Obama said in his interview.
“But the fact of the matter is, is that vaccines are why we don’t have polio anymore, the reason why we don’t have a whole bunch of kids dying from measles and smallpox and diseases that used to decimate entire populations and communities.”
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Three stooges!!
AT least the stoges were comedic. THESE 3 are sickening!
Yes, let’s give it to those privileged white boys first, including one of them named called Bush who belongs not in the company of socialist criminals and nation destroyers, but should get his rear end to Georgia and help protect the interests of the party that promoted him to President. George, do you really hate Trump more than you love a viable power checking United States Senate and our system of American checks and balances? Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you what you are, which in George’s case, if spoken aloud these days would be highly censored. Where were YOU when your party needed you,,,,,,out in a haystack fast asleep, instead of being the boy who looked after the sheep.
Justice would be that George, desperate for a blood transfusion would only have Bill Clinton and Obama left to donate. Do you think he would really take that injection? That my friends is the real feel bad news behind this phony feel good news. Trump took the risk of experimental dugs months ago, where were you three hiding at the time when 30,000 others were getting injected in trials and taking the real risks?
Barack, with the big money you make /made at Netflix, you can have Netflix make a movie, about how Barack got the covid vaccine, since you stated that you would have someone film you, getting the vaccine. When the people that voted for you, watch you being vaccinated, in the Netflix movie, they can count how many millions of times, you say, I, I, I, me, me, me.
Too bad there isn’t a vaccine to prevent liberalism.
IF there was one, i say that should be forced on everyone.
I think it’s called the Glock vaccine.
AKA the metric cure for socialism.
I doubt whether any of them will risk taking the actual vaccine. They’ll probably be given a placebo.
Don’t kid yourself Moe Larry and Curly have already gotten one… months ago.
Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama walked into a COVID-19 clinic to get the new vaccine. They begin engaging in a lively discussion about who should be the first to receive the vaccine. Bill Clinton said he should be first because his administration gave America eight years of peace and prosperity. George Bush stated he should be first because his administration responded decisively to the 9-11 attacks and kept Americans safe. Barack Obama then chimed into the discussion and claimed that he should be first since his administration was the most transparent and scandal-free in our nation’s history. Clinton and Bush looked at each other, laughed. and told Obama he should go first because he was able to tell such an outrageous whopper with a straight face.
Not impressed by these three at all.
#1. Just who is telling people that the vaccine? Andrew Cuomo Governor of New York hates President Trump so much that he said that even if he received the Trump Covid-19 vaccine, he would not distribute it. Bill de Blasio.
The mayor of N.Y. city sent the people with Covid-19 to nursing homes that are filled with the old and the sick that die if they catch the Covid-19.
The “Never Trumper” Hateful Liberal Democrats have effectively driven themselves insane.
Better yet. Save the vaccines for someone more worthy. Not crazy about any of them. Especially obummer.
I keep seeing media hacks, say “WE need to vaccinate ALL first responders”..
HAVE THEY EVER ASKED all the first responders, to see if they WANT TO take a vaccine, RUSHED into service.
Right. They are so trustworthy that nobody would think they are getting a placebo instead of a possible life ending vaccine.
Gag me with a spoon!
REAL PRESIDENTS!!!
Real Presidents? Not even close. Not one of those three is fit to wipe Trumps a**.
Three of the worst presidents in my lifetime. Or for that matter any time.