President-elect Joe Biden and incoming First Lady Jill Biden will publicly receive the first round of coronavirus vaccine shots on Monday, the Biden-Harris transition announced on Friday.
Incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki added that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff will receive their vaccinations after Christmas. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top medical expert on the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force and Biden’s chief medical advisor, recommended they do so earlier in December in order to ensure public trust in the vaccine. (RELATED: ‘I Didn’t Feel A Thing’ — Pence Receives Coronavirus Vaccine On Camera)
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We are continuing to lay the groundwork for the Biden-Harris administration, which will be ready on day one, to tackle the country’s current challenges. Join our press briefing to hear the latest: https://t.co/cACd2MYt19
— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) December 18, 2020
Vice President Mike Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams all were vaccinated at the White House Friday morning, making them the highest ranking members of the federal government to yet do so.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 11: President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden honor military veterans with a stop at the Philadelphia Korean War Memorial at Penn’s Landing on Veterans Day on November 10, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Biden continues the process of the presidential transition as President Donald Trump continues to contest the election. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“History will record that this week was the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic, but with cases rising across the country, with hospitalizations rising across the country, we have a ways to go,” Pence told the reporters gathered at Friday’s event. “I want to assure the American people that we’re going to continue to make sure that our healthcare providers have all the support and resources they need to meet this moment. But vigilance and the vaccine is our way through.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were also vaccinated on Capitol Hill later in the day.
Today, with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the COVID-19 vaccine. As the vaccine is being distributed, we must all continue mask wearing, social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus. pic.twitter.com/tijVCSnJd7
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 18, 2020
Just received the safe, effective COVID vaccine following continuity-of-government protocols. Vaccines are how we beat this virus.
Now back to continue fighting for a rescue package including a lot more money for distribution so more Americans can receive it as fast as possible. pic.twitter.com/kSBhI3EzzM
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 18, 2020
The White House has not yet set a date for President Donald Trump to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany noted at a recent briefing that the president “did recently recover from COVID” and “has the continued protective effects of the monoclonal antibody cocktail,” he received while being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“He will receive the vaccine as soon as his medical team determines that it’s best,” she continued. “He wants to make sure the vulnerable get access first.”
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