No, Biden never asked people to get vaccinated before Hurricane Ian; Fact Check

Social media is abuzz with a video clip of US President Joe Biden showing him urging Americans to prepare for Hurricane Ian’s landfall in Florida by getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

Biden is shown encouraging residents of hurricane-prone states, especially Florida, to get vaccinated to minimize their risk of infection during evacuations or when grouped in shelters.

 

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A post shared by Don Paul (@youkeepthechange)

The video captions read: “Joe Biden’s hurricane defense plan,” and it was shared before the onset of Hurricane Ian. The text from the Instagram message on September 28, 2022 reads:

“Let me be clear. If you are in a state where hurricanes often strike, like Florida or the Gulf Coast or into Texas, a vital part of preparing for hurricane season is to get vaccinated now. Everything is more complicated if you are not vaccinated and a hurricane or natural disaster hits.”

Soon, the twitter comments followed depicting the US President as inept or out-of-touch, while others said that he was trying to make use of Hurricane Ian to force Americans vaccinated. See some remarks here:

The remarks[https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1574843161117081600?s=20&t=L01iH-ABrHo3J6RtaOrRPg] highlighted on social media were delivered them more than a year before Hurricane Ian.

@NJGirl4Tay: “Hurricane victims: before getting food, water, meds, fuel, cash, batteries, your loved ones safe, Joe Biden wants you to get your vaccination NOW! Can we shut him off for the duration? God bless you all in FLORIDA.”

@Life_as_Mickey:”This doesn’t make sense and it’s insanity how is a vaccination going to help you against a hurricane. Joe biden’s a demented….”

@BigEYEdeas: “Hey Florida…

… Joe Biden said your “BEST PROTECTION FROM A HURRICANE…

… is getting a COVID VACCINATION.”

SERIOUSLY… He said that.”

@2ndAmendmentJim:”WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU JOE? COVID VACCINATION HAS “NOTHING” TO DO WITH HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS! ARE YOU THAT OUT OF YOUR MIND! EPIC FAIL!”

@ShotGun_Bonnie: “Listen as Biden says “ If you are in a state where hurricanes often strike….. a vital part of preparing for hurricane season is to get vaccinated now…..” like wtf ?!?! #BidenWorstPresidentEver #ClownWorld #GodHelpUs”.

FACT CHECK

When we checked, owing to the obvious irrelevance to the link between a hurricane and a Covid vaccine, the original video was traced in Youtube that was uploaded more than a year ago and it was made when the Delta variant Covid-19 was spreading rapidly. To be precise, the speech was made by Biden on August 10, 2021 — during that year’s hurricane season and an influx of Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant and not now as per the claims.

Here’s the original text of the video as per the White House:

The video was used ahead of the Hurrican Ian this year to show the US President in bad light. Biden did not call for Covid-19 vaccinations while discussing Hurricane Ian during a September 27, 2022 White House address or during calls with Florida officials.

Claim: US President called for vaccination before Hurricane Ian hit Florida

Conclusion: No, old video when Delta variant of Covid-19 was re-used with misinterpretation ahead of the hurricane.

Rating: Misinterpretation –

About Gayathri S.

Gayathri with more than 6 years of experience working with Microfinance Monitor and Global India News is our contributor covering fact-checks in areas from science, political, social to gender issues. She can be reached at gayathri@digiteye.in

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