CNN anchor John King announced on Oct. 19 that he’s been living with multiple sclerosis (MS). King used the moment as an opportunity to remind people that vaccinations against COVID-19 are beneficial for members of the immunocompromised community.

“I'm going to share a secret I’ve never shared before,” King said during a moment on his show “Inside Politics.” “I have multiple sclerosis. So I’m grateful you’re all vaccinated.”

King, who also serves as CNN’s chief national correspondent, didn’t say how long he’s been living with MS. However, he noted that he’s grateful that his colleagues are vaccinated, as mandated by his employer. “I don’t like the government telling me what to do. I don’t like my boss telling me what to do — in this case, it’s important,” he said.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance advises people with MS to discuss vaccinations with their health care providers. “Most people with relapsing and progressive forms of MS should be vaccinated. The risks of COVID-19 outweigh any potential risks from the vaccine,” the guidance notes.

People with progressive forms of MS are among the groups that have the highest risk for hospitalization due to COVID-19 and are especially encouraged to get vaccinated, according to the organization’s vaccine guidance.

Although King has recently added his voice to the group of high-profile individuals with MS, he isn’t the first news anchor to do so. Fox News Channel anchor Neil Cavuto was diagnosed with MS in 1997. He has talked extensively about how MS symptoms have impacted his ability to work on camera and how he compensates for those moments.

Cavuto learned on Oct. 18 that he had tested positive for COVID-19, but he expressed a positive outlook due to his vaccination status. “​​While I’m somewhat stunned by this news, doctors tell me I’m lucky as well,” Cavuto said. “Had I not been vaccinated, and with all my medical issues, this would be a far more dire situation.”