White House Mocks Podcast Megastar Who Suggested the Young and Healthy Don't Need COVID Vaccines
White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said Americans shouldn’t be taking medical advice from popular podcast host Joe Rogan, who suggested young, healthy people don’t need to get the coronavirus vaccination.
“I guess my first question would be, did Joe Rogan become a medical doctor while we weren’t looking?” Bedingfield said on CNN’s “New Day” Wednesday.
“I’m not sure that taking scientific and medical advice from Joe Rogan is perhaps the most productive way for people to get their information.”
She added that people who hear that kind of message may question the vaccine.
“The fastest way to get [back to normal] is for more people to get vaccinated. If you get the vaccine, you can start to get back to normal life,” Bedingfield said.
“We really have a once-in-a-generation opportunity right now to seize the moment … not only create jobs but create jobs for the long haul,” says White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield ahead of Biden’s address to Congress tonight.https://t.co/mrVyxXNd3R pic.twitter.com/vx2X8HH7gL
— New Day (@NewDay) April 28, 2021
Rogan made his comments on a recent episode of his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Rogan said he believes it is safe to get vaccinated, but he doesn’t think young and healthy people need to worry about it.
“If you’re like 21 years old, and you say to me, should I get vaccinated? I’ll go no,” he said.
“If you’re a healthy person and you’re exercising all the time and you’re young and you’re eating well, I don’t think you need to worry about this.”
Spotify’s Joe Rogan encourages “healthy” young people not to get a coronavirus vaccine. His show is Spotify’s most popular podcast.
“If you’re like 21 years old, and you say to me, should I get vaccinated? I’ll go no.” pic.twitter.com/5dX98xUaHS
— Alex Paterson (@AlexPattyy) April 27, 2021
Rogan used the example of his kids, who got COVID and only experienced cold-like symptoms to back up his claim.
“We’re talking about something that is not statistically dangerous for children … You should be vaccinated if you are vulnerable,” he said.
Other people criticized Rogan’s comments, with Dr. Anthony Fauci called them “incorrect.”
“You’re talking about yourself in a vacuum,” Fauci said during an appearance on NBC’s “Today.”
“You’re worried about yourself getting infected and the likelihood that you’re not going to get any symptoms. But you can get infected, and will get infected, if you put yourself at risk and even if you don’t have any symptoms, you are propagating the outbreak.”
A March Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll of 1,434 people found that 75 percent of adults are willing to get vaccinated or have received one dose, an increase from the 67 percent who were willing to get vaccinated in January.
An April Monmouth University poll of 800 adults found that only 21 percent of Americans said they would not get the vaccine.
Experts estimate 80 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated in order for the United States to reach herd immunity, The Hill reported.
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