Former U.S. Presidents Volunteer for COVID-19 Vaccination to End Distrust

Clinton, Bush, and Obama Actively Promote 'Vaccine Safety'
Obama: "If Fauci Says It's Safe, I'll Willingly Get Vaccinated"

Bill Clinton (from the left), Barack Obama, George Bush, former U.S. Presidents [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama have publicly stated that they would voluntarily receive the COVID-19 vaccine if health authorities approve its safety, in an effort to dispel public distrust of the vaccine.

According to CNN and other outlets on the 2nd (local time), former President Obama said in an interview with SiriusXM radio channel's 'Joe Madison Show,' "If someone like Anthony Fauci, whom I know, have worked with, and fully trust, says it is safe, I will gladly get vaccinated." He added, "If it is made for people with low risk, I will get it," and "I will appear on TV to get vaccinated or have the vaccination filmed so that people know I trust science."

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is the top infectious disease expert in the U.S. and has provided active situation assessments and advice to the government, medical community, and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, President Donald Trump has often ignored or clashed with him. Conscious of this, former President Obama seems to be trying to quell distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine by stating that he trusts science.

Former President Bush also expressed his willingness to get vaccinated himself to encourage the public to receive the vaccine. According to CNN, he recently contacted Director Fauci and Debbie Birx, White House COVID-19 Task Force coordinator, to express his willingness to do whatever he can to encourage the public to get vaccinated. Freddy Ford, a spokesperson for former President Bush, said, "First, the vaccine must be approved for safety and administered to priority groups," and "After that, former President Bush will gladly get vaccinated in front of the cameras."

Angel Urena, spokesperson for former President Clinton, also stated, "If the situation allows, former President Clinton will get vaccinated as soon as possible," and "If it helps encourage all Americans to get vaccinated, he will do so in a public setting."

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of this day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has exceeded 14.31 million, with deaths reaching 280,000. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom approved the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech, becoming the first country in the world to do so.