Hannity Shrinks From Pro-vaccination Message
Fox News personality tries to have it both ways
Sean Hannity seemed to surprise everyone on his Monday evening program by delivering what appeared to be a message unmistakably in favor of vaccination against the novel coronavirus.
What was so surprising was that Hannity's network — Fox News — had been such a bastion for the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
That misinformation has contributed to causing a definite hesitancy among many Americans who are declining vaccination. And it is largely within those pockets of unvaccinated Americans where COVID-19 cases continue to spread.
Vaccine misinformation — and downright disinformation — has become such a concern that the White House and allies of the Biden administration have begun tackling it much more head on in the last week or so.
Specifically, on Monday night, Hannity said, “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 death. Research like crazy. Talk to your doctor, your doctors, medical professionals you trust, based on your unique medical history, your current medical condition, and you and your doctor make a very important decision for your own safety. Take it seriously.
“You also have a right to medical privacy, doctor-patient confidentiality is also important. And it absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated. I believe in science, I believe in the science of vaccination. There are rare exceptions,” he added.
But by the end of the week, Hannity had backed away from anything approaching a full-throated endorsement of vaccination.
Rather, the star of the Fox News primetime lineup claimed that his statement had been misconstrued and the subject of media “hysteria.”
And, in the end, Hannity seemed to want to have it both ways.
Hannity said that his intention was to tell viewers to “take COVID-19 seriously.”
“I've said it over and over and over again. It's not been in the last week. I've said to take it seriously, do your own research. There's a ton of it right on — you know, at the tip of your fingers, on your own phone,” he said. “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, that will be an important decision with you and your doctor based on your very unique and specific circumstances.
“I've had many doctors on this program, some that I agree with and some that I disagree with. I pelted them with questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine and therapeutics, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, regeneron, etc. We passed on the information to inform people on how all Americans can stay healthy.”
Many of those so-called “therapeutics,” including hydroxychloroquine, were well-debunked by expert medical professionals — but often came into favor of former president Donald Trump. (Hannity has been one of Trump's most staunch allies in right-wing media.)
“Here's just a small sample of how corrupt the media is in trying to use comments and take them out of context. I do not have the right to tell people what to do, and I also believe in freedom,” Hannity said, using typical Fox News, right-wing rhetoric. “I believe people have the right to make their own decision. I ask you to take it seriously, do your research, consult your doctor, but at the end of the day it has to be your decision.”