Conservative Radio Host Who Called Himself 'Mr. Anti-Vax' Dies from COVID After 3 Week Battle

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via GettyA conservative radio host, who called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax,” has died fromCOVID-19after a three-week battle with the virus. He was 65.On Saturday, the radio station where Marc Bernier worked —News Daytona Beach (WNDB)— announced his death in a social media statement.“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 stationtweeted.“We kindly ask that privacy is given to Marc’s family during this time of grief,” they added.The Ormond Beach, Florida resident was originally hospitalized earlier this month on Aug. 7, according to theDaytona Beach News-Journal.“I don’t have an update on him at this point, other than he has been hospitalized,” said Mark McKinney, the station’s operations director. He later told the outlet that Bernier received his COVID diagnosis only a day prior.Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via GettyAt the time that Bernier was hospitalized with COVID-19, McKinney told Daytona Beach News-Journal, “If you’ve listened to his show, you’ve heard him talk about how anti-vaccine he is on the air.“Back in December, Bernier even told one guest on his talk show of the vaccine, perThe Guardian, “I’m not taking it … Are you kidding me? Mr Anti-Vax? Jeepers.“RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID VaccineBernier’s death marks the latest in a string of conservative and anti-vaccination radio hosts who have died from COVID-19.Phil Valentine, an employee of Nashville radio station WWTN,diedfrom COVID-19 earlier this month, as did Newsmax anchor and conservative radio host Dick Farrel.Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe.There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

A conservative radio host, who called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax,” has died fromCOVID-19after a three-week battle with the virus. He was 65.On Saturday, the radio station where Marc Bernier worked —News Daytona Beach (WNDB)— announced his death in a social media statement.“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 stationtweeted.“We kindly ask that privacy is given to Marc’s family during this time of grief,” they added.The Ormond Beach, Florida resident was originally hospitalized earlier this month on Aug. 7, according to theDaytona Beach News-Journal.“I don’t have an update on him at this point, other than he has been hospitalized,” said Mark McKinney, the station’s operations director. He later told the outlet that Bernier received his COVID diagnosis only a day prior.Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via GettyAt the time that Bernier was hospitalized with COVID-19, McKinney told Daytona Beach News-Journal, “If you’ve listened to his show, you’ve heard him talk about how anti-vaccine he is on the air.“Back in December, Bernier even told one guest on his talk show of the vaccine, perThe Guardian, “I’m not taking it … Are you kidding me? Mr Anti-Vax? Jeepers.“RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID VaccineBernier’s death marks the latest in a string of conservative and anti-vaccination radio hosts who have died from COVID-19.Phil Valentine, an employee of Nashville radio station WWTN,diedfrom COVID-19 earlier this month, as did Newsmax anchor and conservative radio host Dick Farrel.Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe.There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.

A conservative radio host, who called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax,” has died fromCOVID-19after a three-week battle with the virus. He was 65.

On Saturday, the radio station where Marc Bernier worked —News Daytona Beach (WNDB)— announced his death in a social media statement.

“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 stationtweeted.

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

The Ormond Beach, Florida resident was originally hospitalized earlier this month on Aug. 7, according to theDaytona Beach News-Journal.

“I don’t have an update on him at this point, other than he has been hospitalized,” said Mark McKinney, the station’s operations director. He later told the outlet that Bernier received his COVID diagnosis only a day prior.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine.Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty

At the time that Bernier was hospitalized with COVID-19, McKinney told Daytona Beach News-Journal, “If you’ve listened to his show, you’ve heard him talk about how anti-vaccine he is on the air.”

Back in December, Bernier even told one guest on his talk show of the vaccine, perThe Guardian, “I’m not taking it … Are you kidding me? Mr Anti-Vax? Jeepers.”

RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine

Bernier’s death marks the latest in a string of conservative and anti-vaccination radio hosts who have died from COVID-19.

Phil Valentine, an employee of Nashville radio station WWTN,diedfrom COVID-19 earlier this month, as did Newsmax anchor and conservative radio host Dick Farrel.

Multiple large-scale studies have found that vaccines are safe.There is no scientific link between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.

source: people.com