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Donald Trump has said he will reverse an administration directive to vaccinate top government officials against Covid-19, while the vaccine is first distributed to frontline healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes and care facilities. long-term.
The president made the announcement hours after his administration confirmed senior American officials, including White House aides who work closely with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, would be offered coronavirus vaccines as soon as this week under the federal continuity of government plans.
“People who work in the White House should get the vaccine a little later in the show, unless specifically necessary,” Trump said in a tweet. “I have asked for this adjustment to be made. I am not scheduled to get the vaccine, but I hope to do it at the appropriate time. “
People who work in the White House should get the vaccine a little later in the program, unless specifically needed. I have asked for this adjustment to be made. I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but I hope to do so at the appropriate time. Thank you!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020
It was not immediately clear what the scale of the vaccination program was supposed to be, according to two people briefed on the matter, or what effect Trump’s tweet would have on the administration’s efforts to protect senior officials.
The news that White House staff would receive the vaccine early drew criticism on social media.
Trump and his assistants have consistently disobeyed Covid-19 guidelines issued by their own administration, including holding large Christmas parties with unmasked attendees in December.
Officials said earlier on Sunday that doses of the recently approved Pfizer vaccine will be available to those who work closely with the nation’s top leaders.
They said the move was meant to prevent further Covid-19 from spreading in the White House and other critical facilities. Trump was admitted to the hospital with the virus for three days in October.
“Senior officials in all three branches of government will receive vaccinations in accordance with the continuity of government protocols established in executive policy,” said National Security Council spokesman John Ulyot.
“The American people must be confident that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials in the United States government with the advice of public health professionals and national security leaders.”
The move to vaccinate top US officials would be consistent with the launch of rapid testing machines for the coronavirus, which were similarly controlled by the federal government with kits reserved to protect the White House complex and other. critical facilities.
According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is still not enough information to determine whether those who have had Covid-19 should also receive the vaccine.
Pence has not contracted the virus and his aides have been discussing when and how he should receive the vaccine, as the administration seeks to increase public confidence in the vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart, meaning that Trump administration officials would receive the last injection just weeks before leaving office.
Advisers to President-elect Joe Biden have been discussing when and how he should get the vaccine and have been working to put in place plans to push safeguards against the virus in the West Wing to keep the 78-year-old Democrat healthy.
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