Earlier this week, President Joe Biden announced that by the end of May, the United States will have enough COVID-19 vaccines available for every American who would like to get one. Over the past several months, politicians and other public figures have taken to their platforms to encouraging the public to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the often-deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus.
As of late, there are three vaccines readily available for Americans from companies Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. And despite a co-sign from some of the world’s top medical experts, there is still pushback from people who have expressed that they are hesitant to take the shot, including daytime talk show host Wendy Williams.
During an appearance on the “Dr. Oz” show, the 56-year-old told viewers that she didn’t plan on taking a coronavirus vaccine.
“No. I don’t trust it,” Williams told Dr. Oz. “I’ve never gotten the flu shot either though, and you and I have talked about that. Several of the doctors on my team have told me, ‘Wendy, get the flu shot.’ I’ve never had the flu, I’m not getting a flu shot. I very rarely get a cold. I never have headaches. I don’t take an aspirin because I feel my heart murmur or something like that. I’m not getting — no! I don’t trust it. There, I said it.”
The doctor brought to Williams’ attention that her remarks, given her large platform, could have a severe impact on the millions of people still on the fence about getting the vaccine. When asked if there was anything that could change her mind, whether it be proof that the shot was effective and safe or even seeing a loved one get it, Williams doubled down and said, “I’m not getting the vaccine.”
She continued, “Listen, 10 million people and more have the flu vaccine, and how many people per year catch the flu? No, I’m not getting the vaccine, Dr. Oz. I’m not. I don’t trust it!”
Dr. Oz continued to press the matter and even asked for an exact reason as to why Williams didn’t want to get the vaccine, to which she had no specific answer.
“Doctors are really smart people,” she expressed. “But doctors don’t know everything. That’s been proven, as well. I’m not getting the vaccine.” Williams concluded her remarks by explicitly telling viewers that she was in no way telling them not to get the vaccine. Instead, she was just stating that she would not be getting it.
Reactions to Williams denying the vaccine were split. While many identified with her retrograde anti-science attitude, others just couldn’t agree, including music journalist Touré, who wrote on Twitter, “No shots—Wendy Williams trusted the doctors and the science when she wanted to get plastic surgery so why does she suddenly not trust doctors and science now that it’s a Covid vaccine??? (There’s nothing wrong with getting plastic surgery.)”
