Is it true that President Biden suggested getting vaccinated against the hurricane?

Many social media users are making fun of US President Joe Biden, who allegedly suggested that Americans get vaccinated against hurricanes. We checked whether the head of the United States really gave such advice.

Video of President Biden encouraging US citizens to get vaccinated ahead of hurricane begins spread online from the end of September 2022. "RIA Novosti” published an article entitled “Vaccinating against hurricanes: Biden made another strange statement.” The article quoted Biden as saying: “I want to be clear. If you live in a hurricane-prone state like Florida or Texas, getting vaccinated immediately is a vital part of preparing for hurricane season. Things get a lot more difficult if you're not vaccinated and you get hit by a hurricane or other natural disaster." Telegram channel «Freshness» published a video of Biden’s speech, and the speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova commented on the post: “Did Biden invent the hurricane vaccine?” On social networks video clip Biden's tweet went viral and received millions of views. Some users notedthat on the eve of an approaching hurricane, people in the risk zone have more important problems than vaccination.

Hurricane Ian formed in the Caribbean on September 24. According to experts, it turned out to be stronger than one of the most powerful hurricanes in US history, Charlie. The hurricane hit the US state of Florida at the end of September 2022 and has already killed more than 100 people. 10,000 people so far are considered missing. September 29, President Joe Biden at a press conference at the headquarters of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) saidthat Ian could lay claim to being the deadliest hurricane in Florida history. Biden also announced emergency in Florida, South Carolina and other states affected by the hurricane.

The media did not specify where exactly the video in which Biden spoke about the importance of vaccination in regions in the path of Hurricane Ian was taken from. In September, Biden made two public statements on the hurricane: September 27 at the White House and September 29 at FEMA headquarters. Biden did not mention vaccinations in any of these speeches. There are no similar references in newsletter White House, which describes the US administration's preparation plan for Hurricane Ian.

The viral clip was actually taken from a video taken on August 10, 2021, during Biden's briefing with FEMA and COVID-19 response teams. During Biden's briefing saidthat early vaccination will allow people at risk not to worry about the coronavirus during the coming hurricane season. Here is his verbatim quote:

“With the emergence of the Delta strain, we are seeing a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Cases and hospitalizations are rising fastest in states with low vaccination rates, such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, which are also at high risk for hurricanes. So we don't wait until it's too late. And if, God forbid, a natural disaster occurs, we must be protected from COVID-19. Let me be clear: If you are in a hurricane-prone state like Florida, the Gulf Coast, or Texas, getting vaccinated is an important part of preparing for hurricane season. Things get more complicated if you're not vaccinated and there's a hurricane or natural disaster. If you have to evacuate, if you have to shelter in place, the last thing you want to worry about is COVID-19.”

So Biden's 2021 quote was taken out of context. Biden did not suggest people could protect themselves from the hurricane by getting vaccinated. He meant that vaccinated people would not have to worry about viral illnesses in situations where they might have more serious problems, such as a natural disaster or evacuation.

Cover image: YouTube

Taken out of context

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

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