Trump, Pence and other White House officials to be administered COVID vaccine: Report

President Donald Trump and Vice
President Mike Pence along with several top officials in the US government
will soon be offered the recently authorized COVID-19 vaccine. This is
allegedly aimed at ensuring that the functioning of the government is not crippled,
sources familiar with the plans said, Reuters reported.

On Sunday, the director of the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way for Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19
vaccine to be administered to people 16 and older in the country.

Now, sources have said that important leaders at the White House, in Congress, and on the Supreme Court, will be offered
the vaccination starting Monday.  

National Security Council
spokesman John Ullyot said officials will be administered with the vaccine with
an aim to ensure that the government can operate normally during a pandemic.

“The American people
should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective
vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of
public health professionals and national security leadership,” Reuters
reported Ullyot as saying.

“This will further ensure that the United States government
will continue essential operations, without interruption, for our citizens as
we continue to fight this pandemic and work toward a return to prosperity for
our nation,” he added.

Several leaders and officials,
including Trump, tested positive for the virus in the last few months. 

It, however, remained
unclear whether POTUS would be given the vaccine immediately as he has already recovered
after contracting the virus. It also remains unclear whether President-elect
Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and other officials in the former’s
transition team would be offered the vaccinations.