Dr. Oz makes stop at Grove City College campaigning for U.S. Senate

Dr. Mehmet Oz is asked a question by a Grove City College student during his campaign visit on January 26, 2022.

It was an eventful evening in Mercer County as well known celebrity physician Dr. Oz made a stop at Grove City College. 

He's running for U.S. Senate as a Republican candidate.

On Wednesday, he spoke to students on his thoughts on the pandemic, which is what lead him to leaving show business and entering the world of politics. 

"I've gotten rid of the show. My daughter's hosting now. I got rid of my books, my magazines and shut everything down," Oz explained. "Because you can't do both. One of the reasons I've been so upset with Dr. Fauci from the get-go is when you mix politics and medicine, you get politics. You suffocate medicine. I love medicine."

Oz voicing his opinion on the vaccine, saying he supports the option and had been vaccinated himself.

"But, I don't believe the treatment and the long term for COVID-19 is going to be vaccinations," Oz added. "This vaccine does not prevent infections. It prevents complications which means the benefit accrues to the person who got the shot not the people around that person."

Oz says we should instead search for a long-term solution for treating COVID-19 rather than just vaccinations. Oz said he believes more variants will be coming in the future but hopes they are less severe than previous variants. 

"I don't believe public health officials thought America could walk and chew gum at the same time. So if you had treatments, maybe you might not get vaccinated, so let's not have any treatments literally rooting against solutions that could have worked," Oz said.

The doctor also explained how masking still does not have enough data.

"The masking data is shameful. We have precious little data that it matters that much. The data that keeps getting touted out there is a study from Arizona that the CDC has banked everything on," Oz said.

Students told 21 News they weren't surprised just how crowded the event was. Some calling it a strategic move by Oz to visit Western Pennsylvania and reach a young demographic.

"Grove City College is especially important because we are a very high name conservative school so coming here is a stamp of approval," explained Libby Krieger, Executive Member with the College Republicans of Grove City College. "We aren't endorsing any candidates coming here, but it is important for candidates to be aware of Grove City College. It's really important that candidates come to Western Pennsylvania because it is a good chunk of the state."

"What changed in our country that made it acceptable for us to out and out lie to each other and then allow us to lie back," Oz said to the students. "Everyone is living a myth which is the opposite of what this country represents."

Oz was asked several questions on a variety of issues by a handful of students in the audience on topics including abortion, staying true to his views, representing Pennsylvanians specifically and how bis background in medicine and television will benefit him in Washington.