Tom Hanks willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine after ‘everybody who truly needs it’

In this file photo taken on January 5, 2020 American actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson arrive for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Image: AFP/Valerie Macon

Tom Hanks may not be getting the COVID-19 vaccine anytime soon, but when he does, he’s willing to do it publicly.

The actor confirmed back in March that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, tested positive for COVID-19 while in Australia. At the time, the couple was in Australia for the production of the drama film “Elvis,” directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Hanks spoke with TODAY host Savannah Guthrie on Dec. 21, who asked him how he and Rita have been doing.

“You went through COVID, I know you’re feeling better, are you excited about the vaccine? Is that something you’re looking forward to taking?” asked Guthrie.

“Well, we’ll be getting it long after everybody who truly needs to get it,” said Hanks. “We had it (COVID-19), it was a tough couple of ten days, but I think what was much more important [in] the second half of the COVID-19 formula is that we didn’t give it to anybody.”

As per Hanks, he and Rita followed safety precautions by “locking down” and wearing face masks, which they continue to do today.

“We wear masks and we still do, not just so we don’t catch it, but so you don’t give it to somebody in case you are one of those asymptomatic carriers,” he said.

When asked if he would receive the COVID-19 vaccine publicly when his turn comes, Hanks replied with no hesitation.

“Yeah, sure. Yeah,” he said.

The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Dec. 11, thus allowing the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S.

Hanks’ willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine publicly comes days after actor Sir Ian McKellen received the COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom. McKellen spoke to the media about receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Queen Mary’s University Hospital in London and encouraged people to “do the sensible thing” and get vaccinated.

“It is invasive of course, it looks like a weapon — a needle — but it isn’t, it’s a friend!” McKellen told ITV News. “I would encourage everybody to do the sensible thing, not just for themselves but for everybody else because if you’re virus-free that helps everybody else, doesn’t it?” Cody Cepeda/JB

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