Members of Congress getting vaccinated – but Jacobs plans to wait

A spokesman for Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York echoed the reasoning that Reps. Brian Higgins and Tom Reed spelled out in explaining why they, too, plan to get the vaccination in coming days.

“Per the guidance of the Office of Attending Physician, Senator Gillibrand received a vaccination shot today," said Evan Lukaske, communications director for Gillibrand, a Democrat. "She believes it is important to potentially protect her family and staff around her, as well as to show hesitant New Yorkers that the vaccine is safe and vaccination is a responsible thing to do for the community.”

But Jacobs, in a statement, took an entirely different approach.

“I believe the Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective – and that all Americans should take it," Jacobs, a Republican, said. "At this time, however, I will not be jumping the line to receive the vaccine simply because I am a member of Congress.”

Jacobs' spokesman, Christian Chase, did not reply to an email seeking a further comment in light of the fact that the attending physician of the Congress recommended lawmakers get vaccinated without delay.

"My recommendation to you is absolutely unequivocal: there is no reason why you should defer receiving this vaccine," the attending physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, wrote in a memo to members of the House and their staffs. "The benefit far exceeds any small risk."

A 2016 directive from then-President Barack Obama called for members of Congress, top executive branch officials and Supreme Court justices to be quickly vaccinated in the event of a pandemic to ensure that government operations can continue, Monahan said in the memo.

"The small number of Covid-19 vaccine doses we will be provided reflects a fraction of the first tranche of vaccines as it is distributed throughout the country," Monahan wrote.

Gillibrand was by no means the only high-profile politician to follow the doctors' advice and get vaccinated quickly. Vice President Mike Pence had his vaccination on live TV Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, both tweeted pictures of themselves getting the shot.

Higgins, a Buffalo Democrat, said he would think about doing the same when he gets vaccinated this weekend.

"This is a new type of vaccine that's been developed over the last decade," he said. "It's been determined to be both safe and highly effective. You know, we're trying to encourage people to do it and the more people that get it, the more people will likely get it."

Higgins said getting the shot was just part of his effort to promote it. On Monday, he had a call with local health-care leaders and pastors in hopes of getting those pastors, most of them in the African-American community, to encourage their parishioners to get the vaccine when it becomes available.

"Getting a vaccination is very, very important for the health of our fellow citizens and for ourselves and our families," Higgins said. "So I just think it's an all-hands-on-deck effort to promote getting the vaccine."

Reed, a Corning Republican, said in a statement that he, too, sees himself as setting an example by getting the vaccine.

"To clearly demonstrate to the American people that I have full confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, I will take the vaccine in the coming days," Reed said in a statement. "Elected officials must all recognize the role we can play in helping to alleviate any concerns regarding Covid vaccination. Working together, we can continue to distribute the modern miracles Operation Warp Speed has produced to bring about the end of this pandemic.”

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll earlier this month found that only about half the public is sure it wants the vaccine. Meantime, some politicians have noted that the public might not appreciate it if they "skip the line" to get the vaccine before most other Americans.

In fact, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer used that very phrase on the Senate floor this week.

"I myself will take the vaccine as soon as it is appropriate and recommended," said Schumer, a New York Democrat. "I will not skip the line, but make make no mistake, we should all lead by example and commit to taking the vaccine and tell our constituents to take it as well."

Schumer was enmeshed in negotiations over a stimulus bill Friday so it was unclear exactly when he would get the vaccination.