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John Roberts slammed for using Colin Powell's death to attack Covid vaccine's efficacy

Colin Powell's family confirmed that the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs died 'due to complications from Covid 19'

Fox News anchor John Roberts has been slammed for claiming that the death of Colin Powell raises “new questions” about the coronavirus vaccines. On Monday morning, October 18, Powell's family confirmed that the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs died “due to complications from Covid 19.” Powell had been suffering from multiple myeloma.

“He was fully vaccinated,” the family said. Following the announcement, Roberts took to Twitter to note that Powell had been vaccinated. “The fact that Colin Powell died from a breakthrough COVID infection raises new concerns about how effective vaccines are long-term," Roberts wrote. The tweet has since been deleted.

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Robert in his post, however, failed to note that Powell suffered from multiple myeloma -- a kind of blood cancer that is responsible for weakening the immune system. The post neither mentioned that it was clearly confirmed by experts that Covid-19 vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing death, especially when it comes to an 84-year-old man with multiple myeloma. Social media soon began criticising Roberts for his comment, with one user writing, "Fox already using Powell's death as anti-vax fodder. Powell was 84 and was immuno-compromised because of blood cancer (multiple myeloma)." While another wrote, "Colin Powell was 84 years old, and he was suffering from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that attacks the B cells which are a crucial part of the immune response to Covid. His death does not raise any concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccines", another wrote, "This is really irresponsible. Not just erasing his age and his being a cancer survivor but the passive “raises new concerns.” Among who? Are those concerns truly valid? Are these new excuses from the same old unvaccinated tinfoils? Is this journalism?".

"Colin Powell had multiple myeloma, a type of cancer for which almost any disease can be deadly, but notice that Fox News isn't mentioning that," wrote one user. " "Supposedly one of the "serious journalists" at Fox," wrote another.

Roberts, after deleting the tweet, offered an explanation  in another post. "I deleted my tweet about the tragic death of Colin Powell because many people interpreted it as anti-vax. It was not. I was excited to get vaccinated, hoping it would help speed a return to 'normal life'. I also did a PSA on Fox encouraging vaccination for those able....," he wrote. "As we all know, the FDA is now recommending boosters for certain people, and I personally know a number of people who have had breakthrough infections - some of them, quite troubling. Yes, Powell had myeloma, but I was still stunned to hear of his passing from COVID.... we live in the same town, and we would occasionally run into each at the local sandwich shop. His death is a loss for our community and our country. I plan to get a booster as soon as possible."

Roberts' comment follows that of Fox & Friends co-host Will Cain, who had said that Powell’s death will lead to “conversations about the fact he was fully vaccinated, according to his family and he died from complications from Covid.” 

“There will be many conversations in wake of this death, there will be honoring this man, this public servant, this human being, who was a professional soldier for 35 years,” Cain had said. “We can reflect on his life and we should. There also be conversations about the fact he was fully vaccinated, according to his family and he died from complications from  Covid.”

“We are beginning to see statistics like this grow in frequency,” Cain had added. “We know the vaccine does wane over time in its ability to protect you from not just its transmission and infection but severe complications and hospitalization and obvious, death well. We know it’s beginning to spill over covid into the vaccinated population.”

Cain had added, "“Again, Colin Powell in the direct age demographic that offers the most from complications from Covid. Bbut I think everyone watching needs to be aware of limitations — and protections — that we all have all offered ourselves through this pandemic in all of this potential risk.”

We would like to mention what CDC has said about the efficacy of Covid vaccines and breakthrough Covid infections. "People who are immunocompromised may not always build adequate levels of protection after an initial 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, until advised otherwise by their healthcare professional. Further, CDC recommends that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose of vaccine," the CDC states on its website.  It also warns that "Vaccine breakthrough infections are expected. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing most infections. However, like other vaccines, they are not 100% effective. Fully vaccinated people with a vaccine breakthrough infection are less likely to develop serious illness than those who are unvaccinated and get COVID-19."