A growing number of lawmakers are refusing early access to the COVID-19 vaccine

A small but growing number of legislators are refusing early access to a COVID-19 vaccine offered to them under continuity of government policy.

A handful of lawmakers in both parties, including Reps. Brian MastBrian Jeffrey Mast House Republicans Who Did Not Sign To Texas Trial Five Republicans Vote Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana House Passes Major Reform Bill To Deciminalize Marijuana MORE (R-Fla.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarCongress Passes .3T Coronavirus Aid, Government Funding Agreement Ilhan Omar Says She Won’t Get Vaccine: ‘People Who Need It Most Should Get It’ Omar Blames Trump for ‘Dangerous Criminal Neglect’ in Response to COVID-19 LAKE (D-Minn.), Tulsi GabbardTulsi Gabbard Ilhan Omar Says She Won’t Get Vaccine: ‘People Who Need It Most Should Get It’ Tulsi Gabbard Refuses COVID-19 Vaccine Until Older Americans Get It, Blows ‘CDC Bureaucrats’ Hillicon Valley: Texas , other states file antitrust lawsuit against Google | Krebs Emphasizes Electoral Security As Senators Rise | Twitter is crunching MORE over misinformation about the coronavirus vaccine (D-Hawaii), Jefferson Van Drew (RN.J.), Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard Paul McConnell: Senate returns Dec. 29 for possible Trump veto vote Congress gives .3T coronavirus relief, government funding deal House passes massive spending deal, winning Senate vote MORE (R-Ky.) And incoming Rep.-elect Nancy Mace (RS.C.), all made a point to announce they would refuse a vaccine before all primary care health workers and seniors are vaccinated.

Most other lawmakers are getting their first of two doses of the vaccine and urge others to follow suit, arguing that it is necessary to ensure government continuity in the pandemic.

But some are wary of the optics of representatives getting priority access to a vaccine and would rather wait for it to be generally available to the public.

‘I’m not saying I have any aversion to it. It’s just a personal attitude that if you’re a leader, you eat last, ”Mast told The Hill.

“Symbols are important in life,” said Mast. “The powerful symbol could be, ‘Hey listen, we’re going to make sure we take care of the people first.’ … “You first. You first with the legislation, you first with the relief, you first with the vaccination, you first with everything else.”

The Capitol’s doctor’s office received doses specially reserved for Congress and began distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to lawmakers late last week under continuity of government policy.

Officials serving in the executive branch and the Supreme Court, as well as other top government leaders such as Vice President Pence and President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenCongress Passes .3T Coronavirus Aid, Government Funding Deal House Conservatives Crawl Into White House To Schedule Challenging Election Results House Passes Massive Spending Deal, Making Senate More Vote are also receiving doses in recent days, along with health professionals across the country.

Once members of Congress are vaccinated, the Capitol’s doctor’s office will begin offering vaccines to “continuity-essential” personnel on Capitol Hill.

Members of Congress are at a higher risk of virus exposure and transmission to others because of their weekly trips from around the country to congregate at the Capitol and frequent interactions with voters. Many lawmakers are also over the age of 65, which puts them at higher risk of developing serious effects from COVID-19.

At least 42 members of the House and Senate have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, while several others have tested positive for antibodies or had suspected cases. About half of those cases have occurred since November alone during the height of the pandemic.

Two members of Congress – Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiCongress Passes .3T Coronavirus Aid, House Government Funding Agreement Passes Huge Spending Agreement, Senate Vote Tee-Up Dictionary.com Weighs As #LetThemEatCake Relief Relief Trends MORE (D-Calif.) And Sen. Chuck GrassleyChuck Grassley Senate Democrat Says Cyber ​​Attack on Treasury ‘Appears to Be’ Significant ‘Negotiators Solve Last-Minute Problems As COVID Relief Act Draws Closer to Finish Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers Ask If Mass Hack Is An Act of War | Microsoft says systems have been exposed to massive SolarWinds hack | Senators are pushing to keep technical liability MORE outside the UK trade deal (R-Iowa), the senate president pro tempore – are also second and third respectively in the presidential line of succession. Pelosi received her first vaccination dose on Friday, while Grassley hadn’t had it on Monday but planned to get it.

Lawmakers acknowledged that the timing was not ideal for them to get the vaccine before Congress passed a long-delayed coronavirus aid package on Monday.

The package includes funding for the distribution of national vaccines, support for the Small Business Paycheck Protection Program, unemployment insurance, housing assistance, and direct checks up to $ 600 per eligible person.

“Well, it is certainly embarrassing and disheartening that it has taken us eight months since we passed the CARES Act to finally get relief,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). “I mean, if you’re busy feeling really guilty about not helping the hundreds of millions of Americans who needed the help, then you’re going to get the vaccine? But then again, I think someone who voted against all the packages should now feel guilty. “

Beyer, 70, was among the first full members of Congress to receive a vaccine on Friday. He reported no side effects and said he wanted to be an example to others.

“I really want to make sure we are leading by example. That we do everything we can to encourage people to get the vaccine. First, because of their health, and second, because of the immunity of the land’s herd, ”said Beyer.

Besides Pelosi, all other top conference leaders in both parties – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell McConnell: Senate Returns Dec. 29 For Possible Trump Veto-Right Vote Congress Passes 3T Coronavirus Lighting, Government Funding No. 2 GOP Senator: Attempts to Overthrow Elections Would ‘Go Down Like a Dog Gone’ MORE (R-Ky.), Leader of minorities in the house Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyCongress Passes .3T Coronavirus Aid, Government Funding Deal Top Republicans Push Changes To Motions To Redo The Hill’s Morning Report – Finally Congress Reaches COVID-19 Emergency Relief Agreement MORE (R-Calif.) And leader of the minorities in the Senate Charles SchumerChuck Schumer McConnell Vows To Vote On Biden’s Cabinet Choices Expenditure Act Aims To Reduce Emissions And Boost Energy Development Schumer: New York Gets B In Coronavirus Aid Funding MORE (DN.Y.) – received their first vaccine doses in recent days and shared their experiences on social media.

The ordinary lawmakers in both parties have followed suit. Progressive superstar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezCongress Passes .3T Coronavirus Aid, Government Funding Deal House Passes Massive Spending Deal, Senate Votes Ilhan Omar Says She Won’t Get Vaccine: ‘People Who Need It Most Should Get It’ MORE (DN.Y.), 31, posted several tweets describing the vaccination experience to her nearly 11 million Twitter followers and explaining how the vaccine works.

But one of her closest allies – Omar, whose father died of COVID-19 this year – called it “shameful” that members of Congress were given priority on vaccination.

“It would make sense if it was age, but unfortunately it is important and embarrassing. We are not more important [than] frontline workers, teachers, etc. who make sacrifices every day. That’s why I don’t take it. People who need it most should get it. Complete stop, ”tweeted Omar.

Gabbard, who is retiring and will no longer be a member of Congress after Jan. 3, called on her under-65s colleagues to hold off on vaccinating until seniors get it.

“I had planned to get the vaccine but will now show solidarity with our seniors by not doing this until THEY can. I urge my colleagues who are under 65 and healthy to join me, ”Gabbard tweeted Monday.

And Paul, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year, tweeted Monday that it is “inappropriate for me – who has already contracted the virus / has immunity – to come before the elderly / health workers.”

At least one legislator, Rep. Ken BuckKenneth (Ken) Robert Buck Ocasio-Cortez, other lawmakers criticize the lack of time to review the giant bill. GOP congressman says he is more concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine than the disease itself. (R-Colo.), Said he would not get the vaccine due to concerns about its safety.

But a two-fold majority of lawmakers so far argue that it is in their best interest to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

See, this is what responsible adults do. They get the vaccine if they can, ”Beyer said.