WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said they would get the Covid-19 vaccine within days to ensure the continuity of the government during the pandemic.
In addition to the two leaders, all members of Congress will be able to receive the coronavirus vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc.
and Germany’s BioNTech SE in the coming days, according to a letter sent to lawmakers Thursday by Congressional physician Brian Monahan. He said the National Security Council had informed him that vaccines were available to members of Congress, the executive branch and the Supreme Court.
Dr. Monahan encouraged lawmakers to schedule the vaccine at the Capitol complex. Once lawmakers are vaccinated, Congress staff are eligible.
Mr. McConnell (R., Ky.) And Ms. Pelosi (D., California) encouraged the public to get the vaccine when they became eligible.
“I am disappointed at the early public sentiment showing some hesitation in getting a vaccine,” said Mr. McConnell, citing a recent poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs that found that only about half of Americans want the vaccine. “As a polio survivor, I know both the fear of a disease and the extraordinary promise of hope that vaccines bring.”
Ms. Pelosi said she would continue to wear a mask and take other measures to reduce the risk of infection after she received the vaccine.
Lawmakers, who travel frequently and are responsible for passing legislation to respond to the pandemic, have debated as key personnel whether they should get it early.
Dr. Monahan encouraged all members of Congress to get the vaccine, whether they previously had Covid-19 or not. In his letter to all lawmakers, he wrote in bold: “My recommendation to you is absolutely unequivocal: There is no reason why you should delay receiving this vaccine. The benefit far outweighs any small risk. “
For those involved, they were ahead of primary care health professionals and first responders, Dr. Monahan said Congress will receive a small portion of the doses available nationwide.
National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said earlier this week that senior officials in all three branches of the government will receive vaccinations due to security protocols set in 2016. The policy was designed to establish continuity requirements and applies to leadership and personnel in all branches of government.
“The American people must be confident that they are getting the same safe and effective vaccine as senior US government officials, on the advice of public health workers and national security leadership,” said Mr Ullyot.
Lawmakers also plan to get the vaccine to build public confidence in the shot, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last week. Vice President Mike Pence will get his vaccine on camera Friday morning, along with second lady Karen Pence and surgeon general Jerome Adams. President-elect Joe Biden and elected Vice-President Kamala Harris are expected to receive the vaccine early next week.
More than 40 members of Congress have tested positive for the coronavirus. On Thursday, the Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana and Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama were the last to announce they had Covid-19.
Write to Natalie Andrews at [email protected]
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Appeared in the December 18, 2020 print edition as ‘McConnell, Pelosi Gets Rapid Vaccinations’.