Kamala Harris received one of the first doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine as a part of Operation Warp Speed. She’s the latest big name politician to get her shot on camera to help encourage other Americans to take the vaccine. Many remain skeptical of a medicine that was rushed out so quick.
Kamala Harris receives COVID-19 vaccine
Kamala Harris received her first round of the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday. Her vaccination took place on camera as part of a growing effort to encourage the public to trust the vaccine.
Even before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines for emergency use this month, a sense of mistrust fell over the public.
New vaccines have traditionally taken close to a decade to bring to market. Yet, the pandemic led pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccine candidates in less than a year, which created concerns that the products had been rushed and not thoroughly tested.
COVID-19
17 minutes after receiving the shot GATES VACCINE, NURSE PASSES OUT on LIVE TV 17th December 2020 pic.twitter.com/3SqCGpuIM3— ഡേവിന്ദർ ആനന്ദ് D K ANAND 🐅 (@DAVINDERANAND3) December 25, 2020
Many Americans refuse the COVID shot
Joe Biden supposedly received a dose of Pfizer’s vaccine last week at a hospital near his Delaware home. His injection was scheduled a week ahead of Harris’ to prevent them from developing any potential side effects at the same time.
Other top lawmakers, like Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have already publicly received their first doses.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, rolled up his sleeve last week for the Moderna vaccine. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have committed to doing the same.
President Donald Trump has not said when he intends to get the vaccine. He tweeted earlier this month that he was not scheduled to take it, but said he looked forward to doing so at the appropriate time. The White House has said he is still discussing timing with his doctors.
“When the time is right, I’m sure he will remain willing to take it,” White House spokesperson Brian Morgenstern echoed Friday. “It’s just something we’re working through.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, however, offered a different explanation for the delay. She told reporters last week that Trump was holding off, in part, “to show Americans that our priority are the most vulnerable.”
“The president wants to send a parallel message, which is, you know, our long-term care facility residents and our frontline workers are paramount in importance, and he wants to set an example in that regard,” she said.
Asks Bill Gates if vaccine is really safe. This was his answer.. pic.twitter.com/AgQg0XVswJ
— The TRUMP PAGE 🇺🇸 🦅 (@MichaelDeLauzon) December 29, 2020
