Pelosi will receive COVID-19 vaccine in “next days” as vaccination program for parliamentarians begins

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speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse must come home to start a new Congress. Biden allegedly chose Brenda Mallory to lead the White House environmental council Pelosi and Hoyer nod to support Haaland for the interior Six large groups of veterans call for dismissal MORE secretary VA (D-California) said Thursday it expects to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the next few days as an inoculation plan for members of Congress begins to take shape.

Pelosi said the Capitol doctor’s office informed Congress that members of the House and Senate were eligible for vaccinations, which began distributing to health care workers this week.

“With confidence in the vaccine and in the direction of the attending physician, I intend to receive the vaccine in the coming days,” Pelosi said in a statement.

“Even with a vaccine, I will continue to follow[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guides continue to wear a mask and take other science-based measures to stop the spread of the virus, “she added.

Pelosi is second in line to the presidency, making speaking a priority for vaccination for the continuity of government goals.

The President of the Senate pro tempore, who is currently Sen. Chuck GrassleyChuck Grassley: GOP Senate warns Biden against electing Sally Yates as attorney general GOP top senators recognize Biden as president-elect, after Electoral College vote (R-Iowa), is third in line of succession. Grassley tested positive for COVID-19 last month, but showed no symptoms.

A few hours earlier, he was the majority leader of the Senate Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellBiden plans to receive COVID-19 vaccination publicly as early as next week Pence, other Trump officials to receive the public vaccine. By sweeping COVID-19, the spending agreement hits speed MORE (R-Ky.) He also announced that he expects to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days. And, like Pelosi, McConnell reiterated that he will continue to follow the guidelines on the mask and social distancing.

“Because of government continuity requirements, I have been informed by the attending physician’s office that I am eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, which I will accept in the coming days,” McConnell said in a statement.

“Even with a vaccine, I will continue to follow CDC guidelines, wearing a mask, practicing social distance, and washing my hands frequently,” McConnell added. “I would encourage everyone to continue to follow these important guidelines. It is the only way we will defeat COVID-19 once and for all. “

Members of Congress will also soon have access to the vaccine.

The Capitol doctor’s office issued a note on Thursday informing lawmakers that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration will be made available to Congress in accordance with “long-term requirements for the continuity of government operations.” The Supreme Court and the executive branch will also receive a series of doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

“The small number of doses of COVID-19 vaccine that will be offered to us reflects a fraction of the first tranche of vaccines, because it is distributed throughout the country,” wrote Brian Monahan, the Capitol’s attending physician, in a memo.

“My recommendation to you is absolutely unequivocal: there is no reason why you should delay the administration of this vaccine. The benefit far outweighs any small risk,” Monahan wrote.

Monahan said lawmakers would receive the vaccine first, followed by key Capitol staff.

“Once we have completed the vaccination of members, we will follow a process to identify staff members essential for continuity in the various divisions of the Chapter community in the coming weeks,” he wrote. The appointment process will then continue until small vaccine stocks are depleted. A second dose planning process will begin later.

Members of Congress are considered essential workers – a group considered a high priority for a vaccine according to CDC recommendations – and face a higher risk of exposure to the virus due to frequent travel around the country and interaction with many people.

At least 42 members of the House and Senate tested positive for COVID-19 in March, while a few others tested positive for antibodies or suspected cases.

About half of the cases among members of Congress have taken place since November alone, as the nation is experiencing the peak of the pandemic to date.

As early as Tuesday, five members of the Chamber revealed diagnoses for COVID-19.

One of those parliamentarians who has given positive results in recent days, Rep. Joe WilsonAddison (Joe) Graves Wilson South Carolina Republican tested positive for coronavirus a few hours after speaking on the floor of the Obama House said “his initial instinct” during Joe Wilson’s 09 outbreak was “to hit this guy in the head ”MORE priorities (RS.C.), voted upstairs and gave a speech hours before finding out his diagnosis. Wilson wore a mask according to the requirement set by Pelosi and said he had no symptoms.

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