WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that he was changing the administrative order to vaccinate top government officials against Govt-19, while Shot Public Distribution is leading health care and nursing homes and long-term maintenance-only facilities.
Trump made the announcement just hours after his administration confirmed that coronavirus vaccines would be given soon this week under a federal continuation of government programs by senior U.S. officials, including some White House aides who work closely with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
“People working in the White House should get vaccinated a little later on in this program, especially if it is not needed,” Trump said in a tweet. “I have asked that this adjustment be made. I do not plan to be vaccinated, but look forward to doing so in a timely manner. ”
It was not immediately clear what the size of the vaccination program should be, with two people briefly commenting on the issue, or what impact Trump’s tweet would have on the government’s efforts to protect top leadership.
The news that White House staff would initially be vaccinated drew criticism on social media. Trump and his aides continue to violate COVID-19 guidelines issued by his own administration, including hosting big holiday parties with unmasked participants this December.
Officials on Sunday said the newly approved vaccine dosages from Pfizer will be available to those working in close quarters with the country’s top leaders. They said the move was to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the White House and other important facilities. Trump was hospitalized with the virus for three days in October.
“Senior officials in all three branches of government will receive vaccinations as a continuation of government regulations established in administrative policy,” said John Juliot, a spokesman for the National Security Council. “The American people must be confident that they will receive the same safe and effective vaccine that senior US government officials receive on the advice of public health experts and the National Security Agency.”
The two men who explained the matter spoke anonymously because they did not have the authority to discuss the matter publicly. The New York Times first announced that US top officials would quickly access the vaccine.
The move to vaccinate top U.S. officials is tantamount to releasing rapid testing machines for the corona virus, which were similarly controlled by the federal government with tools set aside to protect the White House complex and other important facilities.
According to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is still not enough information to determine whether people with COVID-19 should be vaccinated.
Benz did not get down with the virus, and his assistants are discussing when and how to get the vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart, meaning Trump executives will receive the final shot a few weeks before leaving office.
Supporters of President-elect Joe Biden have been discussing when and how he should be vaccinated, and are working to establish programs to increase virus protection in the West to keep the 78-year-old Democrat healthy.
According to a Capitol Hill official, lawmakers were not told how many doses would be available, and it would be a foregone conclusion as to who might receive them. The officer had no authority to discuss it publicly and spoke anonymously.
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Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report from Washington.