Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a clarification statement Friday night after claiming on Fox News’ “Special Report” that the U.S. was “looking into” a possible nationwide vaccine mandate.
It was the latest reversal for the health agency, which has drawn criticism for murky communications regarding the coronavirus and policies and recommendations related to the outbreak.
“To clarify,” Walensky wrote on Twitter, “There will be no nationwide mandate. I was referring to mandates by private institutions and portions of the federal government. There will be no federal mandate.”
Earlier Friday, “Special Report” host Bret Baier had asked Walensky, “Are you for mandating a vaccine on a federal level?”
Walensky had responded: “That’s something that I think the administration is looking into. It’s something that I think we are looking to see approval of from the vaccine.