Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has no plans to receive the vaccine before those who are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
“I’m willing to take it, but I am not the priority… I’m under 45 and so the people under 45 are not going to be first in for this and so when it’s my turn I will take it,” DeSantis said on Wednesday.
He added, “I want my parents, our grandparents, to be able to get it and, you know, granted I’m an elected official but whoop dee doo. At the end of the day, let’s focus on where the risk is.”
Watch his remarks below:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is asked if he has taken the vaccine:
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 30, 2020
“I’m willing to take it but I’m not the priority… Granted I’m an elected official but whoop dee doo. At the end of the day, let’s focus on where the risk is.”pic.twitter.com/2zucGYIQUu
Other lawmakers have advocated against Congress receiving the vaccine before frontline workers and seniors, including Reps. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii).
Mast said in a statement earlier this month, “Leaders eat last; it’s one of the first lessons a solider learns as early as basic training. Speaker Pelosi apparently never learned this lesson—asking Americans to wait to get vaccinated while Congress cuts the line is the opposite of leadership.”
He added, “Congress needs to stop treating itself as a special political class, and the mere suggestion that Members of Congress are in any way more important than the very people who gave us the privilege of serving in Congress is appalling. Being for the people must always mean putting the people before ourselves, which is why every single American should be able to access the coronavirus vaccine before any Member of Congress.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) explained why lawmakers are getting vaccinated ahead of the general public, as IJR previously reported.
“Well, look, in terms of the order of taking it, we were designated by a public health outside group because of continuity of government concerns,” he said during an interview on Fox News last week.
He continued, “Second, I think it’s important for the leaders in the country to step up, take the vaccine and help reassure the American public. Because polls indicate about half the public is either skeptical about taking the vaccine or doesn’t want to take it at all.”
