U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the symbolic significance of his vaccination was important in sending a message to Black Americans that it is safe. CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

‘I Didn’t Feel A Thing’: Vice President And Surgeon General Get COVID-19 Vaccine In Public Event

By NPR News December 18, 2020

BY ALANA WISE

Vice President Pence, second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams received a COVID-19 vaccine on Friday at the White House in a televised event aimed at showing the vaccine is safe and effective.

Pence, wearing a short-sleeve dress shirt, pushed up his sleeve to get the vaccine. He appeared to be smiling underneath his mask and did not watch as he was administered the vaccine by a member of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

“I didn’t feel a thing! Well done!” Pence said after getting the shot.

Vice President Pence receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the White House complex on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Andrew Harnik/AP

Vice President Pence receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the White House complex on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

Pence — who was joined by Dr. Anthony Fauci, CDC Director Robert Redfield and others for the event — praised the FDA for its work evaluating the vaccines. He said he expects the FDA to approve the Moderna vaccine later on Friday.

Pence led the White House’s coronavirus response and is the highest-ranking U.S. official to receive the vaccine so far. He is also among many public officials who have committed to publicly receiving the vaccine as part of an effort to boost public trust in the process.

These officials’ receipt of the vaccine comes shortly ahead of an expected widespread distribution of the product. The U.S. death toll from the virus has topped 300,000 and is still climbing.

Trump not scheduled for vaccine, for now

President Trump, who has not received the vaccine, did not join Pence in person for the event, nor did he comment on the event on Twitter.

Trump tweeted about the Moderna vaccine shortly before the event started. Afterward, he tweeted complaints about China, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the media and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He also retweeted a post questioning the efficacy of wearing masks to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, contradicting Pence, who urged Americans to wear masks “when indicated” during his remarks.

Trump has said he would get the vaccine “at the appropriate time.” The White House has said Trump, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October, has antibodies to the virus and wants to make sure that vulnerable people get the vaccine first.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will receive the first dose of the vaccine on Monday, his team announced on Friday. Their shots will also be publicly administered in Delaware.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is expected to receive the vaccine the following week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell received the vaccine on Friday. It is also being made available to other members of Congress and staff as part of a national security directive that provides for continuity of government.

The surgeon general’s message

For his part, the surgeon general said his vaccination on Friday was important not only because he has asthma and high blood pressure — putting him at greater risk from COVID-19 — but also because of the “symbolic significance” of being a prominent Black medical professional.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said the symbolic significance of his vaccination was important in sending a message to Black Americans that it is safe.
CREDIT: Andrew Harnik/AP

Adams said Black Americans are more hesitant to get the vaccine because of the legacy of the “shameful Tuskegee experiments,” when researchers lied to Black men about experiments in which they let them die of untreated syphilis, and the “exploitation” of Henrietta Lacks for medical research.

“To truly promote confidence in these vaccines, we must start by acknowledging this history of mistreatment and exploitation of minorities by the medical community and the government,” Adams said.

Fauci, the nation’s top virologist, said that while the vaccine was developed in record time, the safety and integrity was not compromised and that decisions on its safety and efficacy were made by independent experts, not the administration or the companies. He encouraged Americans to “step to the plate when your time comes to get vaccinated.”

“We all hope — and I think this is doable — that by the time we get several months into this year, we will have enough people protected that we can start thinking seriously about the return to normality,” Fauci said.