Despite being fully vaccinated, U.S. Secretary of Defense is causing people here in the states to wonder how effective th COVID-19 vaccines in the states really are. That’s after a video was released today of Lloyd Austin getting off the plane in the Philippines wearing a face mask and full-face shield while meeting with Filipino dignitaries.
“Our @SecDef is vaccinated But he arrives in the Philippines wearing a mask AND a face shield Embarrassing COVID theatre,” Rubio tweeted.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio called it “Embarrassing COVID-19 theater”. Others questioned the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines when a fully vaccinated high-level government official has taken such extraordinary precautions.
While in the country, Secretary Austin will meet with President Duterte and other government partners to discuss avenues to further strengthen U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
Public reaction was mixed. Many felt Austin’s precautions presented doubt in vaccine effectiveness while other commended him for going the extra mile to provide for health safety to himself and others around him.