McConnell says he will get vaccine ‘in the coming days’
“Because of government continuity requirements, I have been informed by the Office of the Attending Physician that I am eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, which I will accept in the coming days,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement Thursday.
CNN has reached out to the other congressional leadership offices — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — about whether they too will be vaccinated.
Congress will receive a “small number” of vaccine doses, according to a letter from Capitol Attending Physician Brian Monahan to McConnell that was viewed by CNN.
Monahan wrote in the letter dated Thursday, “I have been notified by the National Security Council that consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 40 (2016), Congress and the Supreme Court, along with Executive Branch agencies, will be provided with a specific number of COVID19 vaccine doses to meet long-standing requirements for continuity of government operations. Those requirements are focused on essential operations and personnel.”
McConnell said he was “disappointed to see early public sentiment that shows some hesitation towards receiving a vaccine.”
“The only way to beat this pandemic is for us to follow the advice of our nation’s health care professionals: get vaccinated and continue to follow (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines,” he continued, adding, “I truly hope all Kentuckians and Americans will heed this advice and accept this safe and effective vaccine.”
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will also receive the vaccine in a public setting, transition officials told CNN on Wednesday, though the timing and logistical details remain up in the air.
Some have already been inoculated: Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller received his vaccine Monday afternoon at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Navy’s top admiral, Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday, encouraged sailors on Tuesday to get the vaccine, adding that he plans to receive it “shortly.”
“Even though the President himself was infected and he has likely antibodies that likely would be protective, we’re not sure how long that protection lasts,” Fauci said Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Fauci also said he feels strongly that Biden and Harris should be vaccinated “as soon as we possibly can.”
This story has been updated with a letter from Capitol Attending Physician Brian Monahan.
CNN’s Manu Raju, Daniella Diaz, Jim Acosta, MJ Lee and Jeff Zeleny contributed to this report.
