Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has slammed US lawmakers for
getting vaccinated out of turn ahead of the older people and frontline workers,
New York Post reported on Monday.

Omar’s denunciation was aimed at a list of people, which
include fellow Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC,
who got herself vaccinated on Sunday and posted a video of the process on her
Instagram account.

Omar’s message, that came in reply to a tweet by Anand
Giridhardas, the publisher of Ink.Com, found support from many fellow
politicians from across the aisle, who stood by her in her decision to not get
vaccinated jumping the queue.

“It would makes sense if it was age, but unfortunately it’s
of importance and its shameful. We are not more important then frontline
workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday.

“Which is why I won’t take it. People who need it most,
should get it. Full stop,” Omar wrote in her reply.

The congresswoman’s father died due to complications from
COVID-19 in June.

The lawmaker’s comment came at a time when the vaccination
programme has found its stride in the US, with many of the top politicians
getting vaccinated.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden got the
jab on Monday, but they anyway fall in the age-group which is being prioritized
for early vaccines.

It is quite apparent that Omar’s remark was aimed at 31
years old AOC, who in her post said she was getting vaccinated as part of “national
security protocols”.

Also read: AOC faces heat for her Instagram vaccine video

Ocasio-Cortez defended herself in a reply to the same tweet
saying the answer to why she got the vaccine lay in a “National Security Council” order, under which lawmakers are entitled to get preferential treatment for security
purposes.

“The actual answer to your question lies in the National
Security Council, which is where that decision was made in compliance with
Presidential Policy Directive-40. That policy was put in place in 2016 and
established certain requirements for continuity of governance,” she wrote.

Earlier in the day, Congresswoman from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard,
too decided against taking the vaccine and urged fellow lawmakers who are under
65 years of age to not take it, till the vulnerable population is covered.

“I planned to take the vaccine but will now stand in
solidarity with our seniors by not doing so until they can. I urge my
colleagues in Congress who are under the age of 65 and healthy to join me,” she
said in a Twitter video.