Donald Trump gets Covid-19 booster and flu jab despite healthy secretary vaccine scepticism

The White House announced that President Donald Trump received both a Covid-19 booster and a flu vaccine, despite his and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s past scepticism toward vaccines. The update followed a medical evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 10.

According to his physician, the 79-year-old president has “the cardiac age of a 65-year-old” and remains in “exceptional health.” Trump’s exam was described as a routine follow-up, confirming his overall strong condition and active lifestyle.

The news surprised many, given Trump’s past comments questioning vaccine safety, particularly for children. He previously expressed doubts about combination vaccines and suggested links between vaccines and autism, calling for single-dose alternatives to the MMR shot.

While Trump has softened his stance in recent years, especially regarding Covid-19 vaccines, his concerns largely focus on pediatric vaccination. In a recent congressional meeting, he said vaccines “work” and should be used to protect others from infection.

His health secretary, RFK Jr., remains far more critical. He has called Covid vaccines “the deadliest ever made” and continues to accuse officials of politicizing science during the pandemic. He recently stated, “My job is to eliminate the politics from science,” though he admitted uncertainty about the true Covid-19 death toll.

Speculation over Trump’s medical visit arose because it came just six months after his last check-up. Earlier this year, the White House disclosed he has mild chronic venous insufficiency, an age-related condition.

Despite his age, Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, emphasized that the president maintains an unrestricted daily schedule and “remains in excellent overall health.”