By Dominic Taylor-
U.S vice president , Mike Pence, received the Covid-19 vaccination on live television on Friday morning, saying the vaccine is a “medical miracle” and reassuring Americans “that hope is on the way”.
The White House said the aim of the move was to “promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among the American people”.
The public vaccination was done to quell concerns by large sections of the U.S public concerning the quick rollout of the vaccine, by those concerned about its quick approval. Fauci praised Pence and said it was “now up to all of us to step forward and get vaccinated”.
A sizeable proportion of Americans are wary of the safety of the vaccination, a fear the U.S government are keen to address. Large sections of the African Community are in particular cynical about the vaccine, which they believe may target them specifically for their destruction. Public vaccination by high profile politicians is hoped to reduce those concerns.
Healthcare workers from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center administered the vaccinations.
“Confidence in the vaccine is what brings us here this morning,” the vice-president said after his vaccination. “I didn’t feel a thing. Well done,” mr Pence said.
His wife, Karen, and the surgeon general, Jerome Adams, also received shots of the vaccination during the televised White House event.
Pence said he and his wife “were more than happy to step forward before this week was up to take this safe and effective coronavirus vaccine” , as the U.S started distributing doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
President Donald Trump reversed a plan for senior members of his administration to be among the first to receive the vaccine “unless specifically necessary”. Large sections of the president’s support base are believed to have doubts about the efficacy and safety of vaccines.
President-elect Joe Biden, who at 78 is expected to be vaccinated next week. He has set a goal of 100 million vaccinations, about a third of the US population, in the first 100 days after he takes office on 20 January.