Pelosi will get the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days as the vaccination program for lawmakers begins

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse must return home to start a new PENDING ENERGY Congress: Biden reportedly names former EPA chief Gina McCarthy as domestic “climate tsar” | According to reports, Biden would select Brenda Mallory to lead White House environmental council Pelosi and Hoyer nod to support Haaland for Interior The six largest groups of veterans call for MORE dismissal of VA secretary (D-California) said Thursday it expects to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days as an inoculation plan for members of Congress begins to take shape.

Pelosi said the Capitol doctor’s office has informed Congress leaders that members of the House and Senate are eligible for vaccines, which began distributing to health workers this week.

“With confidence in the vaccine and the direction of the attending physician, I plan to receive the vaccine in the next few days,” Pelosi said in a statement.

“Even with a vaccine, I will continue to follow[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] continuing to wear a mask and take other science – based measures to stop the spread of the virus, “he added.

Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, making the president a priority for vaccination for the continuity of government purposes.

The president of the Senate pro tempore, who is currently Sen. Chuck GrassleyChuck Grassley: The GOP Senate warns Biden not to choose Sally Yates as Attorney General GOP senior senators recognize Biden as president-elect after voting for the Electoral College. The election of Biden for the Secretary of Homeland Security poses MORE problems (R-Iowa), is the third in line of succession. Grassley tested positive for COVID-19 last month but did not experience any symptoms.

Hours earlier, leader of the Senate majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch), Mitchell McConnellBiden, plans to get the COVID-19 vaccine publicly already next week Pence, other Trump officials will get the vaccine publicly. (R-Ky.) He also announced that he expects to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days. And, like Pelosi, McConnell reiterated that he will continue to follow the guidelines of masks and social distancing.

“Due to government continuity requirements, the attending physician’s office has informed me that I am eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, which I will accept in the coming days,” McConnell said in a statement.

“Even with a vaccine, I will continue to follow CDC guidelines by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing my hands frequently,” McConnell added. “I encourage everyone to continue to follow these important guidelines. It’s the only way to defeat COVID-19 once and for all.”

Members of Congress will also be able to access the vaccine soon.

The Capitol doctor’s office issued a note Thursday informing lawmakers that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration will be made available to Congress under “long-standing requirements for the continuity of government operations “. The Supreme Court and the executive branch will also receive several doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

“The small number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines that will be provided to us reflects a fraction of the first batch of vaccines as it is distributed across the country,” wrote Brian Monahan, assistant physician at the Capitol.

“My recommendation is absolutely unequivocal: there is no reason why I should delay receiving this vaccine. The benefit far outweighs any small risk,” Monahan wrote.

Monahan said lawmakers would receive the vaccine first, followed by essential staff from the Capitol complex.

“Once we have completed the vaccination of members, we will follow a process to identify staff members essential for continuity in the various divisions of the Capitol community in the coming weeks,” he wrote. “The appointment process will continue until the supply of small vaccines is exhausted. A second dose scheduling process will begin later.”

Members of Congress are considered essential workers (a group considered a high priority for a vaccine according to CDC recommendations) and have an increased risk of exposure to the virus due to frequent travel around the country and interacting with many people.

At least 42 members of the House and Senate have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, while other people have tested positive for antibodies or suspected cases.

About half of the cases among members of Congress have occurred since November alone, as the nation is experiencing the peak of the pandemic.

Since Tuesday, five members of the House have revealed diagnoses of COVID-19.

One of the legislators who tested positive in recent days, Rep. Joe WilsonAddison (Joe) Graves Wilson: South Carolina Republicans test positive for coronavirus hours after speaking at the Obama House floor saying his “initial instinct” during Joe Wilson’s ’09 explosion was to “hit this us in the head “. Democrats are alarming new U.S. human rights priorities MORE (RS.C.), voted on the floor of the House and delivered a speech hours before his diagnosis was known. Wilson wore a mask according to the requirement set by Pelosi and said he felt no symptoms.

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