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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez documented her experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Instagram in an effort to convince followers to follow her example when it is available to them.
The New York socialist, known for her strong social media presence, posted a series of videos Friday when the jab was offered to her and other members of Congress.
At the beginning of the thread, the 31-year-old urged her 8.2 million followers to submit their questions, writing: ‘As with a mask, I would never advise you to do something that I was not willing to do myself. .
Ocasio-Cortez later faced a backlash from critics who said it was unfair for lawmakers to get the vaccine before some healthcare workers.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez documented her experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Instagram on Friday.
When she arrived for her vaccination appointment, Ocasio-Cortez showed the form that she and everyone who receives the jab must complete beforehand.
He then posted a video of the vaccine itself, explaining in the caption that the Pfizer vaccine includes two rounds before immunity develops.
She then shared a photo of herself sitting in a room with several other masked lawmakers who had also just received the shot.
“After getting the injection, they sat us in a room … for 15 minutes just to make sure we’re okay,” she wrote.
“Sometimes people have headaches or general dizziness or see blood, etc., so this is just a precaution. No problems today! she added.
Ocasio-Cortez shared photos throughout the process, including the form she had to fill out beforehand (left). He also responded to questions from fans about the vaccine.
Ocasio-Cortez shared a photo of her and other masked lawmakers sitting in a room after being shot.
After discussing the basics of the vaccine, including a full post on potential side effects, Ocasio-Cortez turned her attention to a bystander’s question about why politicians were receiving it before some healthcare workers.
“ In fact, this also surprised me, I was hoping we would get it much later, ” he said.
But when it comes to access to Congress, it comes down to something known as “continuity of governance” planning.
“Basically, there are national security policies on the books to ensure continuity of governance during national emergencies.”
But some Twitter users were not satisfied with that explanation.
‘@aoc, as a young person, how do you justify getting the vaccine before frontline workers and the elderly who live in your district?’ asked a critic.
Another added: ‘May I ask why all politicians have access to the vaccine while all healthcare workers have not yet?
“Given that there is only enough for 50 million in our giant population, first responders should take priority.”
Ocasio-Cortez faced a backlash from critics who said it was unfair for lawmakers to get the vaccine before some healthcare workers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 80, also shared her experience with vaccines with followers on Twitter on Friday.
“Today, with confidence in science and under the direction of the Office of the Physician in Charge, I received the COVID-19 vaccine,” the California Democrat wrote along with photos of herself receiving the vaccine.
“As the vaccine is distributed, we must all continue to use masks, social distancing and other science-based steps to save lives and squash the virus.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, also shared her experience with vaccines with Twitter followers.
The first US COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech began shipping nationwide last week after receiving emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration on December 11.
A second Moderna vaccine received the same approval a week later.
Both vaccines require the administration of two doses several weeks apart.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines shipped so far and due out in the next few weeks nearly all go to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care homes, according to advice from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
There will not be enough vaccines for the general population until spring, so doses will be rationed for at least the next few months.
President-elect Joe Biden pledged earlier this month to distribute 100 million doses of vaccines in his first 100 days in office, and his surgeon general candidate, Vivek Murthy, said Sunday that it remains a realistic goal.
The boxes containing the Modern COVID-19 vaccine are ready to be shipped to McKesson’s distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, on Sunday.
But Murthy said it is more realistic to think that it may be mid-summer or early fall before coronavirus vaccines are available to the general population, rather than late spring.
Murthy said Biden’s team is working to make vaccines available to lower-risk people by late spring, but doing so requires “everything to go exactly as scheduled.”
“I think it is more realistic to assume that it may be closer to mid-summer or early fall when this vaccine reaches the general population,” Murthy told Meet the Press.
“So we want to be optimistic, but we also want to be cautious.”
The sprawling vaccine rollout comes as the US continues to see alarming increases in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations during the Christmas season.
Another 249,709 Americans tested positive for the virus and another 2,814 died on Saturday, bringing the totals to more than 17.66 million and 316,209, respectively.
Expanding vaccine rollout comes as the US continues to see alarming increases in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations during the holiday season
