On Tuesday, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on camera. Harris traveled to the United Medical Center in southeast Washington, D.C. to receive the Moderna developed treatment.
“It is relatively painless. It happens really quickly. It is safe,” Harris said through her black face mask.
“Literally, this is about saving lives. I trust the scientists and it is the scientists who created and approved this vaccine."
Harris was accompanied by her husband, Dough Emhoff, who also received the vaccine. Harris joins a growing list of public officials who have received the vaccine. Thus far, President-Elect Joe Biden, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vice President Mike Pence have taken the vaccine. Health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Alex Azar have also received the treatment
In recent weeks, some public officials have taken issue with younger lawmakers taking the vaccine. Most notably Rep. Ilhan Omar took aim at lawmakers under the age of 70 who have taken the vaccine despite the CDC's recommendation that it be reserved for frontline workers and elderly citizens.
"We are not more important than frontline workers, teachers, etc. who are making sacrifices every day, which is why I won’t take it. People who need it most should get it," she tweeted.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar projects that the general public may not have to wait much longer to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If successful, Azar hopes to have the vaccine distributed to CVS, Kroegers and other convenient stores by the spring.
“I believe by the end of February, the end of March, of course, depending on the decisions by our governors, but I believe we’ll have enough supply out there to be reaching out to the general public for administration — at your CVS, Walgreens, Kroegers — by the end of February into March,” Azar said.
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