Joni Ernst Sparks Backlash for obtaining the COVID vaccine after the conspiracy spread

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed to politicians, but several lawmakers have been criticized for being among the first to be immunized after previously minimizing the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst announced on Twitter that he had received the first dose of vaccine. Sharing a photo of the vaccination, she said she did it on the recommendation of the doctor’s office.

“I encourage all Yowans and Americans to do the same when the time comes. Thanks to #OperationWarpSpeed ​​and the tireless work of Americans across the country, we are one step closer to defeating this virus,” she posted on Twitter.

She continued to encourage others to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop the spread of the virus.

However, some rushed to call Ernst for vaccination, given that just a few months ago, the senator spread a theory of the coronavirus conspiracy that doctors falsified COVID-19 deaths for money.

Joni Ernst
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa received the COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, despite saying earlier that she was “so skeptical” about the coronavirus mortality rate and suggested that health workers were turning the number deaths through COVID. He speaks here during a December 15 press conference in Washington, DC
Basin

In September, Ernst appeared to embrace a completely discredited theory of the QAnon conspiracy that only about six percent of COVID-19 deaths in the United States were caused by the virus. President Donald Trump redistributed the complaint on Twitter before the social media giant removed the post to spread the misinformation about the virus.

During a question and answer period following his campaign, Ernst said he was “so skeptical” of the coronavirus mortality rate.

“They think there could be 10,000 or fewer deaths that were actually singularly COVID-19,” the Republican senator said.

She went on to suggest that doctors intentionally changed the number of deaths to receive more money to care for the sick patient.

“These health care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is related to it, so what do you think they are doing?” Ernst asked.

In a follow-up interview with Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, she did not provide a specific source for her allegations, but said it was “what I heard.”

Other members of Congress also began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Vice President Mike Pence and Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio also faced adverse reactions to receiving the vaccine in front of health care workers and respondents.

Last week, Iowa health workers were among the first in the country to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Iowa expects to receive 53,800 doses of the newly approved Moderna vaccine this week and another 19,500 doses next week, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Newsweek he contacted Ernst’s office for comment, but did not hear it before publication.

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