Former president Donald Trump has encouraged his Republican supporters — one of the main groups resistant to Covid-19 vaccines — to get their shots, according to AFP.

“I would recommend it,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News. “I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” he said.

“It's a great vaccine, it's a safe vaccine and it's something that works.”

This was Trump's most explicit endorsement for the national mass vaccination campaign since he left office in January. All other living former presidents, including Democrat Barack Obama and Republican George W. Bush, have delivered high profile public service announcements.