On Tuesday, John King got candid about his health journey while having a Live conversation on the COVID-19 vaccine and mandates.
King opened up to a panel including a congressional reporter for Politico Heather Caygle, White House correspondent for The New York Times Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and managing editor at Axios Margaret Taley.
PEOPLE reported that the group joined the journalist on his show “Inside Politics” to discuss the former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who passed away from COVID complications on Monday morning.
Taley mentioned that, despite being vaccinated, Powell battled multiple myeloma, a blood cancer variant that weakened his immune system and was worsened by contact with unvaccinated people.
This statement encouraged the show’s host to share his personal story.
King’s Health
King identified himself as “immunocompromised” based on his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
The CNN anchor thanked those who work with him for being vaccinated as he worries about contaminating his 10-year-old son, who cannot receive the vaccine.
The correspondent said he does not like his boss and the government telling him what to do, but getting the vaccine is essential.
King explained to Boston Public Radio that he did not plan to disclose his secret diagnosis, saying “MS sucks,” and that he was “very lucky” his disease progressed slowly.
Another Public Personality Battling MS
In August, The Blast reported that Christina Applegate announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis on Twitter.
The “Dead To Me” actress said she learned about her condition months back and has since been on a strange journey with a robust support system of other MS survivors.
The 49-year-old shared a quote from a fellow survivor saying, “we wake up and take the indicated action,” then asked the public for privacy.
Applegate did not specify any of her symptoms, but MS is incurable and known to cause chronic pain, vision issues, and tiredness, among other painful symptoms.
Not Alone In The Fight
Last year, The Blast reported that Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who has been battling MS since she was 20, seeks to remove the disease’s stigma.
The actress is unashamed about using a walking stick and told Yahoo Beauty she had to make lifestyle adjustments to thrive independently with her condition.
The “Soprano” star said she feels sick on and off, as persons with MS may not exhibit any external signs of a chronic illness, but the symptoms linger.
Actress Selma Blair also confirmed she was diagnosed with MS in 2018 and has advocated for the condition since.
Blair gives insight into her MS struggles on social media and shows people how to thrive despite the incurable disease.
