Washington (CNN) — Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson is apologizing and claiming that she "misspoke" after reportedly referring to vaccination mandates as "draconian" and "Orwellian."
"To me, it's no different than the abortion debate. The US government doesn't tell any citizen, in my book, what they have to do with their body or their child," Williamson said at an event Tuesday in Manchester, New Hampshire, according to a tweet from a NBC reporter.
Williamson, an author and spiritual adviser, apologized Wednesday for her comments.
"I understand that many vaccines are important and save lives. I recognize there are epidemics around the world that are stopped by vaccines," Williamson said in a statement on Twitter. "I also understand some of the skepticism that abounds today about drugs which are rushed to market by Big Pharma. I am sorry that I made comments which sounded as though I question the validity of life-saving vaccines. That is not my feeling and I realize that I misspoke."
On ABC's "The View" Thursday, Williamson was asked whether she supports mandatory vaccinations.