Sean Hannity insisted on Thursday that he never changed his stance on vaccines and has always told viewers to 'take COVID seriously' after he went viral for appearing to tell his viewers to get the jab.
Hannity, 59, spoke out on both his radio and TV shows on Thursday while noting he never told his viewers to get vaccinated on his Monday show.
The Fox News host had said on Monday: 'Just like we've been saying, please take COVID seriously. I can't say it enough, enough people have died, we don't need any more deaths. Take it seriously.'
'It absolutely makes sense for many Americans to get vaccinated. I believe in science, I believe in the science of vaccinations,' he added.
Hannity's comments on Thursday came after he made headlines across the country for appearing to encourage vaccinations. Even President Joe Biden told a town hall on Wednesday that Fox News had an 'altar call' to tell people to get the vaccine.
'Now a brief message from me to the mob in the media. I have no idea why, but it was only in the last week that my coverage of coronavirus, COVID-19, got the attention of the liberal press,' Hannity said on his TV show Thursday.
'They watched this program and were shocked to discover what I said and what I had been saying for months and months and months.'
Sean Hannity insisted on Thursday that he never changed his stance on vaccines and has always told viewers to 'take COVID seriously'
He said on Monday: 'Just like we've been saying, please take COVID seriously. I can't say it enough, enough people have died, we don't need any more deaths. Take it seriously'
Hannity called the reports of his Monday comments 'false for multiple reasons' before launching into a list of examples he said prove that he has always supported the scientific community and the push for vaccines.
'First, I touted Operation Warp Speed since the beginning,' Hannity said.
The Fox News host said that he predicted as early as January 2020 that 'it would likely be American ingenuity and genius that will help us find therapeutics and vaccines and answers.'
'I praised the efforts of all of these scientists and medical professionals, those involved in developing therapeutics, three vaccines that are now on the market,' Hannity said.
'But I never told anyone to get a vaccine. I've been very clear. I am simply not qualified. I am not a medical doctor. I know nothing about your medical history or your current medical condition.'
Hannity told his audience on Thursday that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to tell them to get vaccinated.
'Instead, for over a year now, I have been warning my viewers, you make my career possible. I want every American – liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat – I want you to be healthy,' Hannity said.
'I have seen the worst of this virus in people that I love and care about. [I said] to take COVID-19 seriously. And I've said it over and over and over again. It's not been in the last week.'
He continued: 'I said to take it seriously, to do your own research, there's a ton of it on the tip of your fingers on your own phone.'
'Look at all of the studies. Consult your doctor or doctors. Consult medical professionals that you trust and based on your specific medical history and health issues,' Hannity
