Hospitalized with Covid, a conservative Tennessee radio host shifts his message to urge vaccinations.

 

Hospitalized with Covid, a conservative Tennessee radio host shifts his message to urge vaccinations.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/24/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine

 

A conservative radio host in Tennessee who had expressed unwillingness to be vaccinated is now hospitalized with Covid pneumonia and urging his listeners to get the shots.

 

Phil Valentine, 61, whose show airs on 99.7 WTN in Nashville, contracted the virus about a week ago, the station said in a statement on Friday.

 

“Phil would like for his listeners to know that while he has never been an ‘anti-vaxer’ he regrets not being more vehemently ‘pro-vaccine’, and looks forward to being able to more vigorously advocate that position as soon as he is back on the air, which we all hope will be soon,” the station said.

 

In an update on Saturday morning, the station shared a message from his wife, Susan: “They say he is still not getting well,” it read, “please pray for me. I am at a breaking point.”