Former Democratic presidential candidate, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, attacked young members of Congress for taking the coronavirus vaccine in front of elderly Americans and said she would not receive it until the elderly could do.
The Hawaii congresswoman made the statements in a tweet Monday morning when members of Congress received the drug Pfizer as part of a “governance continuity” plan that jumped them to the front of the line in front of people large at risk and other frontline workers.
On Friday, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx) recorded herself receiving the vaccine live on Instagram and encouraged her millions of followers to ask questions.
“Heartless, arrogant, unelected CDC bureaucrats have decided that the lives of American seniors don’t count,” Gabbard said.
“For months, CDC has been telling us that older people are the most vulnerable. But now they recommend that 100 million of the so-called essential workers, which means healthy people working in everything from liquor stores to phone companies, can get the vaccine before our grandparents can do it, ”he continued. .
“That members of Congress, like me, can get the vaccine before the elderly are at risk,” he said, protesting against what he called an “immoral and poor health policy.”
Gabbard, 39, announced he was boycotting the vaccine until the most vulnerable had received it and encouraged other young people in Congress to do the same.
“I had planned to get the vaccine, but now I stand in solidarity with our elders in not doing it until they can. I urge my colleagues in Congress under the age of 65 who are healthy to join me. ”
Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, 38, retweeted Gabbard. adding, “I’m with you Tulsi!”
The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s COVID-19 feature on Saturday, bolstering the country’s vaccination effort.
But there are fears that many Americans most in need of the drug are losing out, with hundreds of residences in New Jersey still waiting because officials there were overwhelmed with paperwork.
President-elect Joe Biden, 78, will receive his first shot on Monday with his wife Jill Biden.
President Trump has promised to receive the vaccine, but aides say he may still have immunity after surviving the virus in October and does not want to skip the line.