Former Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that he’s not sure if he will get the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine booster, but he encouraged other Americans to at least consider it.
“We haven’t made a decision on that yet as a family,” Pence replied when asked if he would get the shot in a CNN interview Sunday. “I think every family ought to make those decisions.”
The FDA approved an additional COVID-19 booster shot last week to specifically combat newer strains of the virus. COVID cases are on the rise nationally, raising concerns about another winter wave of sickness.
Pence used the opportunity to plug accomplishments during the Trump administration, but he also hit President Biden over his pandemic response.
“Let’s be very clear, I’m incredibly proud of what the American people accomplished during the worst pandemic in a hundred years, and the fact that American innovation developed not only therapeutics but free, safe and effective vaccines was a medical miracle,” Pence said.
“But, Joe Biden was wrong to mandate those vaccines, and I think it’s one of the reasons why vaccines have been caught up and become a political football,” he continued.
The Biden administration implemented a mandate for large employers to get their workers vaccinated or regularly tested for COVID-19 during the worst of the pandemic. It also required vaccines or masks on federally regulated transportation like airline flights and trains and mandated COVID testing for international visitors.
Each of the requirements faced significant legal pushback.
Both Pfizer and Moderna have released updated boosters.
The Food and Drug Administration has recommended that all Americans older than 6 months receive the new shot, and the new vaccines are expected to be rolled out to national pharmacies this week.
A poll last week found that about half of Americans are interested in the new booster shot.
— Updated at 10:40 a.m.