Sean Hannity insists he never changed his stance on vaccines and has always told viewers to 'take COVID seriously' after President Biden told town hall that Fox News had an 'altar call' to encourage jab
Sean Hannity insisted on Thursday that he never changed his stance on vaccines and has always told viewers to 'take COVID seriously' after he went viral for appearing to tell his viewers to get the jab.
Hannity, 59, spoke out on both his radio and TV shows on Thursday while noting he never told his viewers to get vaccinated on his Monday show.
The Fox News host had said on Monday: 'Just like we've been saying, please take COVID seriously. I can't say it enough, enough people have died, we don't need any more deaths. Take it seriously.'
'It absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated. I believe in science, I believe in the science of vaccinations,' he added.
Hannity's comments on Thursday came after he made headlines across the country for appearing to encourage vaccinations. Even President Joe Biden told a town hall on Wednesday that Fox News had an 'altar call' to tell people to get the vaccine.
'Now a brief message from me to the mob in the media. I have no idea why, but it was only in the last week that my coverage of coronavirus, COVID-19, got the attention of the liberal press,' Hannity said on his TV show Thursday.
'They watched this program and were shocked to discover what I said and what I had been saying for months and months and months.'
Sean Hannity insisted on Thursday that he never changed his stance on vaccines and has always told viewers to 'take COVID seriously'
He said on Monday: 'Just like we've been saying, please take COVID seriously. I can't say it enough, enough people have died, we don't need any more deaths. Take it seriously'
Hannity called the reports of his Monday comments 'false for multiple reasons' before launching into a list of examples he said prove that he has always supported the scientific community and the push for vaccines.
'First, I touted Operation Warp Speed since the beginning,' Hannity said.
The Fox News host said that he predicted as early as January 2020 that 'it would likely be American ingenuity and genius that will help us find therapeutics and vaccines and answers.'
'I praised the efforts of all of these scientists and medical professionals, those involved in developing therapeutics, three vaccines that are now on the market,' Hannity said.
'But I never told anyone to get a vaccine. I've been very clear. I am simply not qualified. I am not a medical doctor. I know nothing about your medical history or your current medical condition.'
Hannity told his audience on Thursday that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to tell them to get vaccinated.
'Instead, for over a year now, I have been warning my viewers, you make my career possible. I want every American – liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat – I want you to be healthy,' Hannity said.
'I have seen the worst of this virus in people that I love and care about. [I said] to take COVID-19 seriously. And I've said it over and over and over again. It's not been in the last week.'
He continued: 'I said to take it seriously, to do your own research, there's a ton of it on the tip of your fingers on your own phone.'
'Look at all of the studies. Consult your doctor or doctors. Consult medical professionals that you trust and based on your specific medical history and health issues,' Hannity said.
Despite his comments on Thursday, Hannity has repeatedly used his shows and Twitter to hit out at measures to contain the coronavirus
Hannity said that he has had many doctors on his program over the past year, including some he agreed with and some he did not.
He also made similar comments during his radio show earlier in the day on Thursday.
'For some reason, me saying take COVID seriously has finally caught up with the mob and the - and the media. Now, I think they've got ulterior motives,' Hannity said on his radio show.
'They monitor this show and TV every night, and I think it has to do with the fact that - you know, there's been this attempt to blame conservatives for the vaccine hesitancy.'
Hannity continued: 'Well, first of all, I'm not urging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, because I'm not a doctor. That is not what I said. I said to take it seriously, it can kill you. I said to do a lot of research. If you have a phone, do your research.'
Despite his comments on Thursday, Hannity has repeatedly used his shows and Twitter to hit out at some measures to contain the coronavirus such as social distancing and vaccine passports while downplaying the pandemic.
'While Democrats are fine with open borders, allowing anyone and everyone into our country, they want to reinstate COVID-19 restrictions for U.S. citizens. TONIGHT on 'Hannity,' @SenRonJohnson will weigh in on the Democrats' COVID hypocrisy,' he tweeted on July 14.
On March 30, Hannity tweeted: 'VACCINE PASSPORTS? @SenJohnKennedy joins 'Hannity' to discuss the absurdity of COVID-19 vaccination passports and China's attempts to hide the truth about the virus' origin.'
Earlier, on February 1, Hannity mocked Los Angeles for instituting a measure to help stop the spread the virus in outdoor dining restaurants.
'NOT A JOKE: LA Bans Patrons from Watching Television While Dining Outdoors… Because of CoVID,' Hannity had tweeted.
President Joe Biden told a town hall on Wednesday that Fox News had an 'altar call' to tell people to get the vaccine
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week that the White House has had 'regular contact' with Fox News regarding the accuracy of its pandemic coverage, CNN reported.
'We've been in touch with every network and many, many media outlets about coverage of COVID-19 to make sure people have accurate information, to voice concerns when we have them,' Psaki said.
She added that the White House understands 'the importance of reaching Fox News' audience about the COVID-19 vaccines and their benefits, and like we are with all of you here today we, of course, are in regular contact.'
After Hannity's comments on Monday, Biden said: 'They've had an altar call, some of those guys, all of a sudden they're out there saying, let's get vaccinated'
He added: 'I shouldn't make fun of it. That's good. It's good. It's good.'
Some presenters at the network have gone further than Hannity in promoting vaccines.
Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy has said: 'If you have the chance, get the shot. It will save your life.'
His co-host Ainsley Earhardt told him and Brian Kilmeade during an episode in May: 'We are six feet apart, and we are all vaccinated.'
The network has also taken its own measures behind the scenes, CNN reported, mandating vaccine passports for workers who return to the office as 'a secure, voluntary way for employees to self-attest their vaccination status.'
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