Former President Barack Obama pleaded on Twitter for Americans, specifically black Americans, to take COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.
Obama claimed “disinformation” as the main reason for the distrust of vaccines. Obama tweeted, “There is a lot of disinformation out there, but here’s the truth: You should get a COVID vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It could save your life—or a loved one’s.”
There is a lot of disinformation out there, but here’s the truth: You should get a COVID vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It could save your life—or a loved one’s.https://t.co/jfRr8es6gW
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 9, 2021
The former president additionally link to a New York Times opinion piece that addressed skepticism towards the vaccine in the black community.
The opinion piece states that most black Americans do not trust the vaccine and opt to “wait and see” how it works out for others, according to the New York Times.
The article continues, “Eight percent said they would get one only if required. Fourteen percent said they would ‘definitely not’ get a vaccination. Only 35 percent said they would get or already have been vaccinated. What’s also troubling, as Kaiser reported, is that ‘Black Americans are still receiving Covid vaccinations at dramatically lower rates than white Americans.”
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 20: In this screengrab, (L-R) Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush speak during the Celebrating America Primetime Special on January 20, 2021. The livestream event hosted by Tom Hanks features remarks by president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris and performances representing diverse American talent. (Photo by Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty Images )
The former President has gone on the radio urging black Americans to trust Fauci and the vaccine.
“People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I’ve worked with, I trust completely. 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,” Obama said on Joe Madison’s SiriusXM radio show, according to The Independent.
Obama was one of many former Presidents to receive public vaccinations in a campaign to push Americans to get the vaccine, according to The Washington Post. (RELATED: Obama, Bush, And Clinton Say They’ll Take Coronavirus Vaccine ‘On Camera’ To Prove Its Safety)