Some top Trump administration officials have now received the COVID-19 vaccine, seeking to build up confidence in the American people.
On Friday morning, Vice President Mike Pence was joined by his wife Second Lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams in receiving the vaccine publicly.
“I didn’t feel a thing,” Pence said after getting the shot, adding, “We’re gathered here today at the end of a historic week to affirm to the American people that hope is on the way.”
The vice president added, “I also believe that history will record that this week was the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic. But with cases rising across the country, with hospitalizations rising across the country, we have a ways to go.”
WATCH: The moment Vice President Pence, second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams publicly receive their COVID-19 vaccine shots https://t.co/plzKpT9bWq pic.twitter.com/Mlo1dDX6Vo
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 18, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci, member of the White House coronavirus task force and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was also in attendance at the event. He also delivered remarks.
Watch the full event below:
Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said on the “Today” show on Friday that he hopes to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon.
“I’m ready to go,” he said, adding, “I’m going to get vaccinated as soon as I can. I hope that’s going to be within the next few days to the early part of next week.”
President Donald Trump shared earlier this week that he will get the COVID-19 vaccine at some point but is not currently scheduled to.
“I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time,” he wrote on Twitter late Sunday.