House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Both received their first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine from Congress’ treating physician on Friday.
Why it matters: The two leaders – Pelosi at age 80 and McConnell at age 78 – are both at risk of serious infections from the coronavirus.
- They are among the top government officials to have received the vaccine, and they join Vice President Mike Pence, who publicly received the vaccine earlier on Friday.
- Members of Congress, many of whom are elderly and in risk categories, are among the first in the US to qualify to receive the vaccine.
The big picture: McConnell and Pelosi are in the process of negotiating the next coronavirus relief package, which is expected to reach about $ 900 billion and could be finalized by the end of the day.