MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

AOC posts clips of her getting Covid vaccine, Internet asks 'how come politicians get it before health workers?'

The Democrat socialist took to her social media accounts on December 18 to post a string of videos when she and other members of the Congress were being administered the vaccine

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in an effort to reassure her followers of the Covid-19 vaccine, documented her experience of getting the jab herself on Instagram. The Democrat socialist took to her social media accounts on Friday, December 18, to post a string of videos when she and other members of the Congress were being administered the vaccine.

The 31-year-old, at the beginning of the thread, urged her 8.2 million followers to send in their questions regarding the process. She wrote: "Just like wearing a mask, I'd never advise you to do something I wasn't willing to do myself." Although many appreciated her gesture, there were some who denounced the Congresswomen as they said that it was unfair for lawmakers to receive the vaccine ahead of some healthcare workers.

AOC, when she arrived for her vaccine appointment, showed her followers the form she and everyone else receiving the vaccine was supposed to fill out beforehand. She later posted a video of herself getting a shot and explained that she was receiving Pfizer's vaccine, which included two rounds before immunity begins to kick in. She later shared a picture of her sitting room, where several other lawmakers who had just received their shots were also seated. 

She wrote: "After you get the shot, they seat us in a room... for 15 minutes just to make sure we're good. Sometimes people get headaches or dizziness in general or seeing blood, etc, so it's just a precaution. No problems today!" She then explained the basics of the vaccine, including a post about the potential side-effects of it. The lawmaker also addressed the viewer's question about why politicians were getting the vaccine before some healthcare workers in the country. She said: "I was actually surprised by this too — I was expecting that we were going to get it a lot later. But when it comes to Congress's access, it's due to something known as 'continuity of governance' planning. Basically, there are national security politics on the books to ensure continuity of governance during national emergencies."

However, some users were not satisfied by AOC's explanation as one user wrote: "@aoc, as a young person, how do you justify getting the vaccine ahead of front line workers and the elderly that live in your district?" While another said: "Can I ask why all the politicians are getting access to the vaccine while all the healthcare workers haven’t yet? Considering there is only enough for 50 million in our giant population, first responders should take priority."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 80, also shared her experience of getting the vaccine on Twitter on December 18. The California Democrat wrote: "Today, with confidence in science & at the direction of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the Covid-19 vaccine. As the vaccine is being distributed, we must all continue mask wearing, social distancing & other science-based steps to save lives & crush the virus." The Democrat leader also posted pictures of herself getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

The United States' first novel coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech began distribution across the country last week. The company received emergency approval from the Food and Drug Adminsitration (FDA) on December 11. A second Covid-19 vaccine, Moderna, was given approval a week later.