Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) criticized the vaccine rollout in an interview on Thursday, questioning why there was a “big push” to get everyone vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“The science tells us that vaccines are 95 percent effective, so if you have a vaccine, quite honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or not?” Johnson said on “The Vicki McKenna Show.” He also asked “what’s the point” of striving to get “everybody” the COVID-19 shot.
“Why is this big push to make sure everybody gets a vaccine, and it’s to the point where you better impose it, you’re gonna shame people, you’re gonna force them to carry a card to prove that they’ve been vaccinated so they can just be in society,” he added.
Johnson also argued that it’s “not a fully approved vaccine” and the fact it is 95% effective means only a limited number of people need to be vaccinated.
Johnson’s comments break with some top Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who have urged Republicans to get vaccinated, since polling shows that they are the most resistant to receiving the vaccine.
The liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century released a statement blasting Johnson for his comments.
“Ron Johnson’s rhetoric is dangerously irresponsible and will prolong the pandemic by discouraging people from getting vaccinated,” spokesperson Zach Hudson said, according to The Hill. “More people will get COVID and die due to Ron Johnson’s comments yesterday. He’s a disgrace and Wisconsin can’t get rid of him soon enough.”
Johnson has not yet decided if he would run for reelection but said last month that retiring after his current term is “probably my preference now.” Trump has endorsed him for re-election but, he lost b the state to President Biden in the November election.
