Coronavirus vaccines will be given this week to senior U.S. government officials, including some White House officials who work closely with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, but its public distribution will be limited to frontline health workers in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
The newly approved vaccine dose from Pfizer-BioMtech is available to those who work closely with top leaders in the country, confirmed by two people familiar with the matter. They say the move is to prevent further COVID-19 outbreaks in the White House Already Trump and other high-ranking officials have suffered from several outbreaks of the infected virus, And other critical facilities.
It was not immediately clear how many officers would initially be vaccinated, and whether Trump or Pence would get it.
Officials said the Trump plan administration is carrying out the vaccination program under the federal continuation of government plans.
“Senior executives in all three branches of government receive vaccines in accordance with the continuation of government protocols established in the Executive Policy,” said John Ulliot, a spokesman for the National Security Council. “The American people must be convinced that they are receiving a safe and effective vaccine, just as senior U.S. government officials, on the advice of public health experts and the National Security Leadership.”
The two men spoke on condition of anonymity as they did not have the authority to discuss the matter publicly. The New York Times first reported the news.
Vaccination of U.S. superiors is consistent with the development of rapid testing machines for coronavirus, which are regulated by kits assigned by the federal government to protect the White House complex and other critical facilities.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, even those with COVID-19 do not yet have enough information to determine if they should be vaccinated. Pence did not land with the virus, and his aides are discussing when and how to receive the vaccine, as the administration is looking to boost public confidence in the shot.
The Pfizer-Bioentech vaccine should be given in two doses over a three-week period, meaning that Trump administration officials will receive the final shot just weeks before leaving office.
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The Trump administration’s vaccination plan could prove to be a boon to his successor, as President – elect Joe Biden’s aides are discussing when and how to receive the vaccine and are working to establish plans to increase virus protection in the West Wing. The 78-year-old Democrat is healthy.
The White House vaccinations came as Trump and his aides hosted large holiday parties with unmasked attendees this December following COVID-19 guidelines issued by his own administration.
A Capitol Hill official said lawmakers were not told how many doses were available and it was too early to decide who would receive them. The officer had no authority to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
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