Matthew McConaughey not ready to support vaccine mandates for young children

Matthew McConaughey Says He Doesn't Support a COVID Vaccine Mandate for Kids Yet

On Tuesday, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey said he wants "to find out more information" before supporting mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 for children aged 5 to 11.

“What is not true is that I am against vaccinating children. This is false. In fact, our eldest 13-year-old son Levi is fully vaccinated for COVID-19,” McConaughey clarified in an Instagram post.

I want to trust in the science," the 52-year-old actor said during The New York Times's DealBook summit on Tuesday. "Do I think that there's any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no I don't. We all got to get off that narrative. There's not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines," he added.

McConaughey stressed that he and his family have taken the pandemic seriously and have taken precautions to help keep his elderly mother safe. We “quarantined harder than any of our friends have and still are two years later,” he told the New York Times.

Earlier this month, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine. This move expanded vaccination recommendation to about 28 million children in the United States.

Across the country, parents have been lining up with their children to access the vaccine. So far, more than 360,000 kids have received their first dose. 

Recent polling has found that despite the CDC’s recommendation, one-third of parents are hesitant and another third do not plan on vaccinating their children.

McConaughey’s comments were made as speculation surrounding his potential run for governor of Texas continues.

In a recent New York Times “Sway” podcast, the Texas born actor told Kara Swisher that he would not run against Republican Governor Greg Abbott in 2022 unless he felt he could make himself “useful” in the role.

“I could arguably have more influence as an informal leader than a formal leader,” McConaughey noted.

Recent polling shows that the actor is competitive against Abbott, who is seeking reelection in the Lone Star State.