Growing number of lawmakers decline early access to COVID-19 vaccine

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

A small but growing number of lawmakers are declining early access to a COVID-19 vaccine that’s being offered to them under continuity of government policies.

A handful of lawmakers in both parties, including Reps. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), Jefferson Van Drew (R-N.J.), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and incoming Rep.-elect Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), all made a point of announcing they would refuse a vaccine before all front-line health care workers and seniors get inoculated.

Most other lawmakers are getting their first of two doses of the vaccine and urging others to follow suit, arguing it's necessary to ensure continuity of government in the pandemic.

But some are wary of the optics of representatives getting priority access to a vaccine and would rather wait until it’s widely available to the public.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/531198-growing-number-of-lawmakers-decline-early-access-to-covid-19-vaccine

[samnsara]

1. we need continuity of gvnt esp during a pandemic..this isnt more than..

...an airplane telling the adults to put the O2 masks on before masking up their kids.

[LizBeth]

4. That would happen regardlewss, old vacc, and young continue mask, 6ft, wash hands isolate, while

mostly able to zoom from home. They are way ahead of a lot of us getting it. And if one or two get it, they are sick a week and move one. So no, it is not about continuity, it is about privilege and Omar said, no thank you. I appreciate that.

[Autumn]

7. When they do have to go in to vote or meet they are surrounded by idiots who who won't mask up

There's no reason why young Democrats should get sick from old asshole Republicans.

[LizBeth]

8. Just like there is no reason I should be stuck at home for ten months, no job, no family because of

stupid Republican fuckers and the idiots that will not mask up. And still, here I sit. So I do not die... at my old age and with risks.

[Autumn]

9. Welcome to the club. No reason any of us should be stuck at home for ten months with no

family and afraid to do anything. But here we are. There is only one thing that's going to get us out of this and back into our lives and that's for anyone who has to go out in public and interact with other people to get vaccinated. Especially people who have to interact with fucking anti maskers like Republicans in DC. The CDC set the guidelines as to where the first doses went. Hospitals in DC and here in CO started vaccinating dr's and nurses on the 14th of Dec. States get to decide when and who gets what depending on the supply chain. Talk to your PCP about your vaccine, mine says if the supply comes though I should get it in Jan because of my age and my underlying medical conditions.

[LizBeth]

11. We disagree. I think our young/healthy congress people getting vacc is height of privileged.

[Autumn]

13. If she were 20 years older and not a popular firebrand with a Twitter following would you be fine

with her getting the vaccine? AOC seems to be the only one you complain about getting it.

[LizBeth]

14. I see what you are doing. This is why I generally ignore your posts, this.

I think it is bad form for our young/healthy people using vaccines ahead of the medical people and old people.

[Autumn]

15. What about young people who are working at convenience stores and retail stores? I think they

should certainty the vaccine. And anyone who works at Wal Mart should jump to the head of the line. Any young person who works in any public place should be vaccinated.

[LizBeth]

18. I would like to see the old ones get it first, but yes. People that keep themselves safe by their

workforce environment should certainly allow the young customer service in front of themselves. I know that is the conversation I am hearing from my 25 yr old going to law school remotely and able to do public service law job remote.

As human beings, these should be considerations and the more examples of it, the more others consider. Yes. That is education in itself. I found AOC schooling me not so helpful and a bit condescending.

That would be the reason why AOC message was so important, to not put herself out there in front of health care workers and the old in group homes. And that is why I appreciate Omars message.

Now, one either gets where I am coming from or not. I think it is an important enough conversation for our nation to be having and why I am speaking up, even though it is done and needs to be put to rest as Christmas nears and fun to be had. Even, alone.

Jolly Christmas to you.

[Autumn]

25. Well AOC and others could have stayed home and not voted for the $600 for those who need it since

Congress insists they show up at work to vote. I wouldn't have minded a bit since I want Democratic politicians to stay safe no matter their age or popularity. But the shit would have hit the fan either way.

[LizBeth]

27. Really? Well, could have always stayed home by gosh, really stuck it to people. Come on man... ;)

[Autumn]

28. Really? You don't want her vaccinated when she works with fucking spreaders who won't mask,

you don't want her to miss work because that would impact you. What do you want her to do. Get Covid and get sick?

"Come on man... "

yourself . Your posts about her are crystal clear.

[LizBeth]

30. Ya, I will remember to not reply in the future. I am not a fan of your style of discussion.

I am not much into the "So what you are saying is...."

I have well stated my opinion over the last couple days, you have followed along. Most people would be able to grasp what I am saying.

[Autumn]

31. I think we've reached a mutual decision. Good luck

[LizBeth]

2. I agree with this. Good to see Omar start this and not a big fan but can appreciate this. Now, I

think our old congress getting it is fine but I agree about the young not getting it and that is the example we want set.

[moriah]

5. If the Senate still requires being on the floor to vote, we need them to get shot up.

Because if they're on the floor sick, there are going to be more than just other Senators they could infect.

I can get some in the House (where remote voting I believe is allowed) refusing on principle and they can go into quarantine without affecting their caucus/essential votes, but if they wanna do something on principle, how about getting the millions of shots in warehouses out to at the very least frontline healthcare workers and LTCF residents?

Them getting shot up is not going to take a shot from either group. Those shots were already purchased and allocated.

I may be in the minority to hold this view, but I feel like this is one time Congress is getting the brunt of anger over something that really isn't the outrage it is being made out to be.

If nothing else, even virus-denying Repukians getting shot up might encourage their constituents to get shots when they're available, once they've seen it hasn't turned them into liberal tree-huggers or something through mRNA altering weird shit, or whatever other conspiracy theory they've heard about the vaccine.

[Autumn]

3. Hoping to infect a few Democrats are they?

[elleng]

6. 'would refuse a vaccine before all front-line health care workers and seniors get inoculated.'

[Lancero]

10. The whole 'not taking it because frontline workers!' is a nice cover for anti-vaxxers.

I've seen that excuse being pushed by anti-vaxxers prior to the vaccine being released. Sometimes with a side of 'I'm refusing the vaccine so it can go to a minority in need!'

As far as 'reasons' go, it's a great one. It gives them a moral high ground to cling to, one that deters people who would otherwise call them on their bullshit.

[LizBeth]

12. Or it is simple integrity.

[My Pet Orangutan]

16. and nice cover for anti-vaxxers.

[LizBeth]

19. When someone tells me they are going to get it, just not in front of others and when another person

jumps in has been anti vax for decades, I will be able to sort it out.

[My Pet Orangutan]

20. when you have to explain it

you've lost

[LovingA2andMI]

21. Loving The Labeling....

NOT!!! Who are you to judge why they have decided to wait. It is not REQUIRED jump in the line for before those cannot wait to get their arm shot up quick, fast and in a hurry. Maybe, they want to just wait. That is an option in America. Labeling because its easier to do and throw a name of "anti-vaxxer" is so kindergarten simple that its insulting on face.

[My Pet Orangutan]

23. It's pretty simple

When you have members of congress skipping vaciness, for whatever reason, it is fertile ground for conspiracy theories - they know something we don't etc etc. The motivations of the individuals didn't mean a damn in Parler Land.

High profile individuals choosing not to be vaccinated? Anti-vaxxer wonderland.

[Steelrolled]

17. My guess it is much more about public image than anything else.

You can be sure they are all watching to see who else is or isn't getting it, before they do. Since this issue doesn't neatly fall in to a D vs R bucket, they have to think about it.

[Autumn]

26. Ken Fuck Nut Buck said he wouldn't take it since others need it more. The idiot forgot he

was on Fox news a few days ago saying he's Murican!

“I will not be taking the vaccine,” he told Fox News host Neil Caputo. “I’m an American. I have the freedom to decide if I’m going to take a vaccine or not and in this case I am not going to take the vaccine. I’m more concerned about the safety of the vaccine than I am the side effects of the disease.”

Fucking nut changed his tune as soon as he got cover to do so.

[Autumn]

29. Exactly! That is what Dr Reiner said about Ken fuckingnut Buck. Today, Buck isn't taking the

vaccine so someone else can have it. He must have forgot he had gone on Fox over the weekend and said

“I will not be taking the vaccine,” he told Fox News host Neil Caputo. “I’m an American. I have the freedom to decide if I’m going to take a vaccine or not and in this case I am not going to take the vaccine. I’m more concerned about the safety of the vaccine than I am the side effects of the disease.”

This was what Dr Jonathan Reiner, the former medical adviser to President George W Bush had to say about him.

“This is just ignorant, anti-vax, science denialism masquerading as libertarianism,” Mr Reiner said on CNN Friday. “The reason for a congressman to be vaccinated now is not simply to protect him from disease, it’s hopefully to protect his community from transmission. When you vaccinate someone hopefully you’re blocking the transmission of the virus and maybe most importantly now for a Member of Congress is to model the kind of behavior we want their constituents to adopt.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/colorado-congressman-ken-buck-covid-vaccine-b1776559.html

[nuxvomica]

22. Keep in mind that Paul was infected and thinks he has immunity already

He's not doing this out of altruism.

[Chemisse]

24. I like the idea of lawmakers waiting their turn just like the rest of us.

I don't care what their motives are. Some health care worker will get a vaccine sooner for every person on Capital Hill who offers to wait until their risk category comes up.