A significant portion of American citizens does not want to take the vaccine for COVID-19. Based on a variety of studies, half of the country’s citizens are against taking the vaccine. Every former president is supporting the vaccine and taking it. Several former presidents want to get vaccinated on television, too, to encourage the public.
President George W. Bush Jr. wants the vaccine. Freddy Ford, who was the President’s chief of staff, confirmed he will take the vaccine. “A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated,” Ford told CNN. “First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera.”
President Bill Clinton has expressed his support for the COVID-19 vaccine, as well. “President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same,” Clinton’s press secretary, Angel Urena, confirmed.
Every living president is supporting the vaccine. According to President Barack Obama, he’ll take the vaccine the first chance he gets. “People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I’ve worked with, I trust completely,” Obama said. “So, if Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can vaccinate, you know, immunize you from getting Covid, absolutely, I’m going to take it. I promise you that when it’s been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it,” he 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.”
During an interview with Sirius Radio, Obama responded to and expressed empathy for Americans skeptical about the vaccine. He did not condemn the skeptics. “I understand you know historically — everything dating back all the way to the Tuskegee experiments and so forth — why the African American community, would have some skepticism,” he added. “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.”
Jimmy Carter, who’s now 96 years old and one of the more well-liked former presidents, joined the chorus supporting the vaccine. The FDA still hasn’t approved the vaccine for rollout, but when the FDA does approve the vaccine, Carter and his wife will take it. “Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, said today that they are in full support of COVID-19 vaccine efforts and encourage everyone who is eligible to get immunized as soon as it becomes available in their communities,” the Carter Center confirmed in a statement on Twitter. However, Carter didn’t confirm whether he’d also appear on television for vaccination.
Throughout the year, the public’s skepticism over the vaccine has only grown. Earlier this year, around 27% of Americans expressed apprehension. Over the last few months, despite the surge and record-breaking number of cases and deaths across the country, more Americans claim to refuse the vaccine. Economist/YouGov‘s recent poll suggests 50% of citizens will refuse vaccination. It’s all the more troublesome considering 70% of the population needs the COVID-19 vaccine for the United States to get to herd immunity.
