Conservative radio host, former vaccine skeptic is sick with Covid-19

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His station announced Friday that a conservative radio host in Tennessee who expressed skepticism about Covid-19 vaccines and had not been vaccinated, has been hospitalized in critical care for the disease.

In a statement posted to Twitter, his family said Phil Valentine, who hosts a show that bears his name on WWTN-FM in Nashville, contracted the coronavirus just over a week ago and is battling pneumonia.

“He is in the hospital in the intensive care unit, breathing with assistance but not on a ventilator,” the family said. Phil would like his listeners to know that while he was never ‘anti-vaccine’, he regrets not being a staunch ‘Pro-Vaccine’, and looks forward to being able to vigorously defend that position once he’s back on the air, which we all hope. to be close.

“Phil and his family would like you all to know that he loves you and values ​​your concern, thoughts and prayers more than you will ever know. Please continue to pray for his recovery and please get vaccinated!”

Earlier this week, his brother, Mark Valentine, posted on Facebook: “Many of you know my brother Phil is in the hospital with Covid-related pneumonia. He’s fighting for his life, which convinced me to go for a vaccination when I wasn’t inclined to do so in Previous.

“I haven’t posted anything pro or con in regards to the vaccine because I felt that everyone should decide for themselves whether or not to get it. Having seen this up close and personal, I encourage all of you to put politics and other concerns aside and get rid of them. When the technician came out And he asked… “Do you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine,” I said hell yes but I would get it anyway.”

After Phil Valentine tested positive for Covid-19 but before he was hospitalized, he told listeners to think, “If I get this COVID thing, do I have a chance of dying from it?” If so, he advised his listeners to get vaccinated. He said he made the decision not to vaccinate because he thought the disease wouldn’t kill him.

Tennessee still has among the lowest vaccination rates in the country even as cases of the highly contagious delta variant rise significantly. As of Thursday, 12,666 people have died from the coronavirus.

Antonio Planas

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Maya Brown

Maya Brown is an intern with the Social News Gathering Team at NBC News.

The Associated Press contributed.

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