The Daily Show host Trevor Noah is being slammed for doubting the sincerity of the Moderna CEO's concerns over the COVID vaccine's effectiveness against the new South African variant Omicron.
Noah, 37, who is South African, criticized the 'need [for] new vaccines' after the Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, 49, hinted at it last week.
'If we don't make a new vaccine this disease could be with us Ferrari - I mean, forever! Sorry, I was thinking of something else,' Noah joked during his show on Thursday after hinting that the CEO's concern was financial gain.
'Now, look, I'm not saying that the CEO of Moderna is lying,' he quickly followed up. 'I'm not saying that at all.
'I'm just saying that I don't think he's the most objective source on this topic.'
Daily Show host Trevor Noah, who is South African, 37, is slammed for promoting 'vaccine hesitancy' after he doubted the Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel's concerns over the new Omicron variant and the vaccines' ability to handle it. The funny guy even joked he'd only believe in it if the CEO of Johnson and Johnson Alex Gorsky recommended it because 'nobody's going to buy his vaccines either way, so I trust him'
Bancel, 49, said it could take two to six weeks for his company to really know how the variant interacts with the vaccines and that it could have a new vaccine ready in 60 to 90 days. Noah suggested Bancel was 'concerned' for financial gain
The Comedy Central talk show host and comedian said he would 'wait to hear what neutral experts say about a new vaccine' or the 'CEO of Johnson and Johnson.'
He jokingly said: 'He [J&J CEO Alex Gorsky] has nothing to gain, because nobody's going to buy his vaccines either way, so I trust him.'
The comedian's hesitancy comes after reports that the Omicron variant has been causing mild cases in patients and he wondered if 'the guy who stands to gain millions of dollars' had other motives.
Earlier this week Bancel expressed concern over a 'material drop' in the vaccine's effectiveness.
'I think it’s going to be a material drop. I just don’t know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I’ve talked are like: "This is not going to be good."' he told the Financial Times.
Despite the show airing on a comedy channel, the internet wasn't too pleased with Noah and accused of him spreading 'anti-vaxx' narratives.
One user wrote: 'Not helpful. Fuels conspiracy theories and anti-vax rhetoric. Not impressed @Trevornoah.'
Another said: 'This is irresponsible and can get people killed. Shame on y’all.'
One user came after Noah's nationality, stating: 'Op, someone is defensive about his home country.'
Noah was born and raised in Johannesburg, South African and even began his career there in 2002 and has hosted music, television and film awards shows in the country.
