Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) described himself as a “big fan of vaccinations” on Tuesday, noting that he had been struck by polio.
McConnell made the statement after the issue of vaccines jumped into the national spotlight among potential 2016 presidential candidates.
McConnell explained his stance to reporters in Washington, D.C.
“As a victim of polio myself, I’m a big fan of vaccinations. If I were a parent who had a child who might be subject to … any particular disease I would come down on the side of vaccination,” McConnell said.
Asked if vaccines should be mandatory, he demurred.
“I can tell you what I would do if I were a parent who had a child in this situation,” he said.
This piece has been updated.
