SANTA ANA, California (AP) – A California congressman contracted the coronavirus before he could get a second dose of vaccine that would have boosted his immunity.
Democrat Representative Lou Correa announced Saturday that he tested positive when he returned home from Washington, DC, prompting him to quarantine himself outside his family.
His office said he received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 19 and did not receive the second shot that would have boosted his immunity by about 95%.
“While this diagnosis will prevent me from attending the long-awaited inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, I look forward to working with the new administration to unite our country and help the millions of people devastated by the pandemic,” Correa said in a statement.
Correa, who represents Orange Central County, is the latest member of the House to have tested positive since dozens of lawmakers gathered to protect themselves during the Jan. 6 insurgency at the U.S. Capitol. Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York said Thursday he contracted the coronavirus even after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.
Correa’s office said he was not in the safe room, but was assisting Capitol police. Late last week he clashed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia with a group of Donald Trump supporters, some of whom were not wearing masks.
The vaccine is about 52% effective after the first dose, Pfizer-BioNTech said. The effectiveness of the vaccine increases by about 95% after the second dose.