While millions of doses of Moderna's vaccine are distributed throughout the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's leading epidemiologist, received the first injection of the said vaccine against the coronavirus this morning.
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At an event at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, in front of healthcare workers on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, Dr. Fauci lifted his shirt sleeves and
received the injection
without making any gesture.
Then he raised his thumbs to indicate that everything had gone well.
"I feel extreme confidence in the safety and efficacy of this vaccine and I want to encourage all who have the opportunity to be vaccinated, so that we have a veil of protection in this country and thus end this pandemic," he said moments before receiving the vaccine.
Dr. Anthony Fauci receives the first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine from the company Moderna.AP / AP
Fauci said he was honored
to be part of the process that led, in less than a year, to the identification of the SARS-Cov-2 virus and the development of a vaccine.
"This, what we are seeing now, is the culmination of years of research that have led to a phenomenon that is truly unprecedented, ranging from the realization that we are dealing with a new pathogen, a virus that was described in January this year, less than a year later, having vaccines that are going into the arms of so many people, including mine, "he said.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, who also received the vaccine, said that "it is nothing less than a miracle" to have a safe vaccine that will help save millions of lives and that will "see the light at the end of this tunnel ”.
“I want the American people to know that
I have complete and absolute confidence in the integrity and independence of the processes conducted by the FDA
to approve these vaccines.
I have complete confidence in the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, ”said Azar.
On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden received the first dose of the vaccine at ChristianaCare Hospital in Newark, Delaware.
In this act, the politician told Americans that they should be prepared and vaccinated as soon as the doses are available.
Last Friday, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence were also vaccinated, in an event aimed at building confidence in the vaccine.
"Building confidence in the vaccine is what brings us here this morning": Pence after being vaccinated against COVID-19
Dec. 18, 202002: 30
House and Senate leaders Nancy Pelosi and Mith McConnell received the vaccine last week.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared her experience receiving the injection on social media.
Republican politicians like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Senator Linsey Graham
caused controversy by receiving the vaccine despite violating prevention protocols
by refusing to wear masks or take a coronavirus test before a debate.
According to Politico, the vaccine will be being distributed among essential members of US politics to ensure "the continuity of the Government."
Politicians' calls to trust vaccines are made amid the growing mistrust of the American public and increasing misinformation on the subject.
For the transmission rates of the disease to decrease, between 60 and 70% of the country's population must be vaccinated or have antibodies against COVID-19.
In September,
49% of American adults
said they would definitely or probably not be willing to get vaccinated, according to estimates from the Pew Research Center.
A poll by The Associated Press, conducted the first week of December, found that
only half of
American
adults
would be willing to get vaccinated.
With information from Politico.