Joe and Jill Biden will get vaccine on Monday in Delaware as Nancy Pelosi follows Mike Pence in getting first round of shots
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will receive the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday in Delaware, the Biden-Harris transition announced Friday.
The Bidens will travel to a local medical facility to get their shots, where they will also thank healthcare workers, Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, told reporters not giving away the locale yet.
'But obviously we want to make sure we are not creating chaos around where he'll be getting it done, but he will be doing it in public, which is important to us as he's stated many times, to send a clear message to the public that it's safe,' Psaki said.
She also said Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff will be getting vaccinated the following week, as healthcare advisers urged Biden and Harris to stagger their doses.
Psaki wouldn't get into why experts gave Biden and Harris this advice, though presumably it's in case one of them has an allergic reaction, which are rare.
The Bidens will follow House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who got vaccinated against the coronavirus Friday on Capitol Hill.
The top leaders of the U.S. House and Senate will be receiving the coronavirus vaccine with Congress' attending physician informing members that they are all eligible for the shots under 'government continuity' guidelines.
President-elect Joe Biden (left) and his wife Dr. Jill Biden (right) will get vaccinated against the coronavirus Monday in Delaware, the Biden-Harris transition team announced Friday
They'll follow House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who received Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on Capitol Hill Friday
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) tweeted out a photo of Dr. Brian Monahan (right), the Capitol physician, handing the Kentucky Republican his proof of vaccination card
Vice President Mike Pence became the highest-ranking government official to get the coronavirus vaccine, getting the first dose Friday morning in Washington, D.C.
Pelosi, D-Calif., is third in the line of succession for the presidency, after President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. McConnell, R-Ky., is not in the line of succession, but as majority leader, he is in charge of running the Senate.
In a statement Thursday, Pelosi said: 'We must all continue to embrace testing, tracing, treatment, mask wearing and social distancing as the vaccine is being distributed. It is imperative that we ensure that the vaccine will be free and delivered in a fair, equitable manner to as many Americans as soon as possible and that we accelerate its manufacture, including by invoking the Defense Production Act.'
McConnell said that as a polio survivor, he is especially aware of the 'extraordinary promise of hope' vaccines offer.
He said he'll continue to wear a mask and follow other health guidelines.
Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol physician, sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to make appointments with his office to be vaccinated.
'Once we have completed the vaccination of the Members, we will follow a process to identify the continuity-essential staff members,' Monahan said, adding that his office would continue with appointments 'until the small vaccine supply is exhausted.'
Monahan administered Pelosi's shot.
Pence became the highest-ranking U.S. official to get the vaccine, doing so at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building alongside his wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams Friday morning.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 in October and so aren't slated to the get vaccine right away.
Trump also pushed back on reports that White House staff would be able to get some of the first vaccine doses in the U.S., as frontline medical workers, and then the elderly, are the top priorities.
'People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary. I have asked that this adjustment be made. I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time. Thank you!' Trump tweeted Sunday night.
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