Barack Obama and the other former presidents of America, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush agreed to receive the coronavirus vaccine to prove to the people that they are safe to use. The trio is aiming to promote public confidence so they will come out have themselves vaccinated once they are released.
Televised vaccination campaign
In his recent interview with Joe Madison’s Sirius XM radio show, Obama said that he is willing to take the vaccine once it is available. The former POTUS shared that if Dr. Fauci said the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, he will not doubt it and believe him.
"People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I've worked with, I trust completely," he told Madison. "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."
Barack Obama added that he may even have himself vaccinated while on broadcast just to show everyone that they can trust the experts and the US FDA. Since there are negative reports about the vaccine and people are afraid to take the risk, the former president along with Clinton and Bush volunteered to get them.
"I promise you that when it's been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it," Obama went on to say. "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."
Statements from Bush and Clinton
Barack Obama, Bush and Clinton are responding to the result of polls that show most American citizens are not willing to get the coronavirus vaccine because they don’t fully trust that it will work. If the public will be like this, the efforts of the U.S. government to curb and control the pandemic will be only be put in vain.
Thus, the three have stepped forward to remove the people’s uncertainty by getting the vaccine themselves. They are hopeful that they will earn the trust of the public and get vaccinated as well.
Bush's chief of staff, Freddy Ford, told CNBC that the 43rd US president contacted Dr. Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the COVID-19 response coordinator, and asked them how he can help promote the vaccine. Ford then said that Bush will "get in line" for the vaccine and gladly receive it on camera.
As for Bill Clinton, his spokesperson told CNN News that he is also willing to volunteer and get vaccinated in a public setting. In this way, he can help in convincing people to do the same. Meanwhile, former president Jimmy Carter is also being asked if he will also join Barack Obama, Clinton and Bush in the drive but there is no answer yet as of this time.