New York Daily News

Hanks: I’m not jumping line for vax

- BY STORM GIFFORD

Tom Hanks won’t be cutting the line for a COVID-19 shot.

The 64-year-old actor told “Today” on Monday that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, will delay their coronaviru­s inoculatio­ns.

“We’ll be getting it long after everybody who truly needs to get it,” Hanks told Savannah Guthrie during a remote interview.

The “Cast Away” star discussed his COVID-19 plan more than nine months after he and Wilson tested positive in Australia.

Calling his sickness “a rough 10 days,” Hanks said, neverthele­ss, it could’ve been more dire.

“But I think what’s much more important is the second half of the COVID-19 formula, that we didn’t give it to anybody,” said the actor.

Hanks was one of the first high-profile celebritie­s to publicize his bout with the virus and stressed the importance of sporting facial protection and maintainin­g proper social-distancing measures.

“Not just so that we don’t catch it but that you don’t give it to somebody in case you are one of those asymptomat­ic carriers,” he said.

When Guthrie asked Hanks if he would receive the vaccinatio­n publicly, he replied, “Yeah, sure.”

Notable politician­s and health care workers have already gotten their vaccines on live TV, including Vice President Pence, President-elect Joe Biden and immunologi­st Dr. Anthony Fauci, who turns 80 on Thursday.

Hanks, a two-time Academy Award winner for “Philadelph­ia” and “Forrest Gump” is generating Oscar buzz for his performanc­e in “News of the World,” which hits cineplexes Friday.

Earlier this year, Hanks received his first Oscar nomination in 19 years for his performanc­e as Fred Rogers in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborho­od.” He lost to Brad Pitt for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

Hanks is slated to star in two 2021 films, the sci-fi drama “Bios” and “Elvis,” in which he’ll assume the role of Elvis Presley’s longtime manger, Colonel Tom Parker.

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