Joe Biden tries to lead the way and gets Covid Vaccine

The Covid-19 vaccine has reached America.  The vaccine has brought with it a lot of hope about returning to normal life.  Many public figures have been and/or plan on getting their vaccines in front of the media.  

Perhaps the biggest name to get the vaccine recently is Joe Biden, who received his on Monday.  Biden went to ChristianaCare Hospital in Delaware.  He was given the Pfizer vaccine (Steinhauser).  

In a rare moment of praising the other party, Biden said  “I think the (Trump) administration deserves some credit for getting us off the ground with Operation Warp Speed” (Steinhauser).

Politicians want the public to feel confident in getting the vaccine.  “The public displays come as top U.S. health officials are trying to persuade regular Americans who may be skeptical of the vaccinations to get them to pave the way for the end of the pandemic” (AP).

Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, and Mike Pence all received the Covid vaccine on Friday.  Pence, like Biden, also got the Pfizer version of the vaccine (AP).  Thirty-one year old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also got the vaccine on Friday (Bowden).  

On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci got the Moderna vaccine (USA Today). 

Some members of the government do not think it is right to get the vaccine before more at risk patients are able to receive it.  This thought process has bipartisan support.  Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who are both in their late thirties, have decided to hold off on getting the vaccine as a way to stand in solidarity with elderly.  Gabbard was very critical of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to get her vaccine so soon (Bowden).  

Lower risk people will have to wait months until the vaccine will be available to them.  Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is Biden’s choice for surgeon general, thinks that the middle of the summer is when lower risk groups will be able to get vaccinated (McLaughlin).   

Bacon, John, et al. “Coronavirus Updates: Dr. Fauci Gets Vaccinated; NY Testing for UK Virus Strain; $600 Stimulus Checks to Go out next Week.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 22 Dec. 2020, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/22/covid-news-anthony-fauci-moderna-vaccine-senate-stimulus-bill/3999488001/.

Bowden, Ebony. “Gabbard Rips Young Congress Members for Taking COVID Vaccine before Elderly.” New York Post, New York Post, 21 Dec. 2020, nypost.com/2020/12/21/gabbard-rips-congress-members-for-taking-covid-vaccine-before-elderly/.

Bowden, Ebony. “Ilhan Omar Slams Lawmakers like AOC for ‘Shameful’ COVID Vaccination.” New York Post, New York Post, 21 Dec. 2020, nypost.com/2020/12/21/ilhan-omar-slams-lawmakers-like-aoc-for-covid-vaccination/.

McLaughlin, Eliott C. “When Can YOU Get the Vaccine? It Depends on Your Health, Occupation and Where You Live.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Dec. 2020, http://www.cnn.com/2020/12/22/us/coronavirus-vaccine-general-public-states/index.html.

Steinhauser, Paul. “Biden Receives COVID-19 Vaccination.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 21 Dec. 2020, http://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-receives-covid-19-vaccination.Zeke Miller, Jill Colvin. “Pence, Top Congressional Leaders Get Vaccines; Trump Absent.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 19 Dec. 2020, apnews.com/article/michael-pence-wife-coronavirus-vaccine-0489a0b64d4353bc693ad1691ff5de1d.