News / Society

3rd American talk show host who condemned vaccines dies of COVID

Monday, 30 August 2021 5:05 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 30 August 2021 5:05 PM ]

File photo of Marc Bernier

A conservative American radio talk show host, who voiced skepticism about COVID-19 vaccination, has died after battling with the coronavirus — the third radio personality in the United States who publicly criticized vaccines to die of the virus this month.

Marc Bernier, 65, who had called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax” on his weekday WNDB radio show from Daytona Beach, died over the weekend after a three-week fight against the virus.

“It’s with great sadness that WNDB and Southern Stone Communications announce the passing of Marc Bernier, who informed and entertained listeners on WNDB for over 30 years,” the station tweeted.

“We kindly ask that privacy is given to Marc’s family during this time of grief.”

Bernier, who was known for inviting opposing voices to his show, had been hospitalized since August 7.

His death came less than a week after another conservative radio talk show, Phil Valentine, also a COVID vaccine skeptic, succumbed to the virus.

Valentine’s employer WWTN Radio announced his death on Twitter last Saturday. He was 61 years old.

On his show, Valentine had repeatedly questioned the necessity of getting vaccinated, saying last December that he believed his personal odds of dying from COVID-19 were "probably way less than one percent."

Fauci promotes booster shots, claiming deaths ‘preventable’

The US leading infectious diseases expert says the deaths of some 100,000 people by December is “predictable but preventable,” further promoting a booster shot for Americans’ vaccinated eight months ago.

On August 4, Dick Farrel, another conservative radio host who had downplayed the coronavirus vaccine, died from COVID-19 complications.

Farrel had worked at several radio stations in Florida, including WIOD in Miami and WPBR in Palm Beach, and had served as a fill-in anchor on Newsmax.

The on-air personality also criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infection disease expert, calling him a “power-tripping lying freak.”

Florida has become one of America’s hot spots for the virus amid the Delta variant surge.

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