"If Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe... absolutely I am going to take it."
Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have all said they would be willing to receive a Covid-19 vaccine on camera, once one is approved by the country's regulators, in order to help improve public confidence.
Speaking to SiriusXM’s Joe Madison, Barack Obama spoke about the importance of vaccines in eradicating diseases.
"The fact of the matter is, is that vaccines are why we don't have... diseases [such as polio, smallpox and measles] that used to decimate entire populations and communities," said Obama.
"If Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can immunise you against getting Covid, absolutely I am going to take it."
"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."
Elsewhere,
CNN report that George W Bush has reached out to Dr Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to offer his help in promoting the vaccine.
"A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated," Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff told CNN.
"First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."
Bill Clinton's press secretary Angel Urena also told CNN that he would be willing to take the vaccine on camera.
"President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same," said Urena.
In the UK, health minister Matt Hancock told
Good Morning Britain's Piers Morgan that he was open to
taking the vaccine on live television, following its approval by regulators on Tuesday.
