Celebrities and politicians reviving Covid-19 vaccine
In December 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines, one by Pfizer and another by Moderna. Days later, vials were delivered to states, and frontline healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities began receiving the first of the two doses required for each vaccine. Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine was approved in February 2021, and distribution has started. Many states have started expanding their vaccine programs to senior citizens, teachers, those with pre-existing conditions, and essential workers like grocery store employees, per CDC recommendations.
For the latest vaccine rollout in the United States, check your state's official website and read more on the powerful, personal reasons that celebrities and everyday people alike are getting the shot in PEOPLE's Why I'm Getting Vaccinated series. Note: Vaccine approvals and rollouts in countries outside the United States are happening on a different timeline.
Rosario Dawson, the actress, got her first vaccine shot at Essex County College and Essex County’s COVID Vaccination Center in New Jersey. "You know, the science tells us that these vaccines are safe and effective at preventing COVID infection and serious illness. They are the best weapon we have -- along with mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing, and other measures recommended by the CDC and public health officials -- to combat the deadly pandemic that has been ravaging our country and our communities for the past year," Dawson shared on Instagram. "And if enough people get the vaccine, they have the potential to help end this once and for all. But the things I found most reassuring of all today were all the volunteers and medical professionals working here. They are taking care of people here. You may have questions about the vaccine, about any possible side effects, about its effectiveness. They are listening. They are answering questions. They are taking the time to talk about the vaccine and how it can help you. So, if you’re eligible, I encourage you to sign up for an appointment and come down here to the Essex County COVID Vaccination Center," she said.
Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut — in an Apollo XI shirt — received his shot just before his 91st birthday. In a Twitter post, he wrote, "I want to thank all the scientists, healthcare workers, and government officials who worked tirelessly to develop and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine in record time and safely, to the world." He also urged fans and followers to get their shots too.
Louie Anderson, the 67-year-old Coming 2 America actor, who lives in Nevada, told Conan O'Brien he received his second shot in March. He joked about feeling nauseous afterward — then remembering the White Castle he picked up on the drive home.
Former Presidents, Obama, Clinton, and Bush, four of the five living past U.S. Presidents, came together for a PSA about getting the COVID-19 vaccine on March 11, the one-year anniversary of WHO declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic. Presidents Obama, Clinton, Bush, and Carter all appear on-screen with their wives in the one-minute spot, rolling up their sleeves for their shots while talking about everything they're looking forward to doing again once pre-pandemic life resumes. A second spot, filmed on inauguration day, spotlights Obama, Clinton, and Bush talking about the science behind the vaccines.
All 9 Supreme Court Justices have received the COVID-19 vaccine. "The Justices have all been fully vaccinated," the court's public information officer, Kathleen Arberg, said in a statement to CNN on March 4. The current justices include Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. While the court did not disclose exactly when each justice was vaccinated, it was reported in January that Chief Justice Roberts had received his first and second jab.
In February, PEOPLE learned that the former President and First Lady, Donald & Melania Trump — who both had COVID-19 in October — received the vaccine before leaving the White House in January. During a Feb. 28 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Donald Trump encouraged "everybody" to "go get your shot."
On Feb. 5, Stephen King, the 73-year-old author tweeted about his "very cool" experience getting his shot at a drive-through set-up in Pasco County, Florida. "No adverse effects," he said. "Get it done, folks. Let's kill this thing.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, their office at Clarence House confirmed to PEOPLE on Feb. 10. At 72 and 73, respectively, Charles and Camilla are in the age range for those who are now being rapidly vaccinated in the U.K. after the over-80s, vulnerable and health workers have received their shots. The moment was especially poignant for Charles, who contracted coronavirus at the start of the pandemic last March. He was fortunate that he only had "mild symptoms," the palace said. Camilla didn't contract the virus, but she had to self-isolate from Charles in their Scottish home, Birkhall, as he recovered.
Bill Gates, the billionaire — whose foundation donated millions toward vaccine development — smiled as he received his shot in January. "One of the benefits of being 65 is that I’m eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine," he wrote. "I got my first dose this week, and I feel great. Thank you to all of the scientists, trial participants, regulators, and frontline healthcare workers who got us to this point."
Tyler Perry, after receiving both doses of the vaccine in January, made a film about the experience to help encourage others to get their shots, as well. COVID-19 Vaccine and the Black Community: A Tyler Perry Special will air on BET and aims to ease concerns about the vaccine within the Black community. "If you look at our history in this country, the Tuskegee experiment, Henrietta Lacks, it raises flags for us as African American people. So I understand why there's a healthy skepticism about the vaccine," Perry told Gayle King, adding that he "didn't really feel like I could trust it." "But once I got all of the information, found out the researchers, I was very, very happy," Perry continued.
Queen Elizabeth, 94, and her husband, Prince Phillip, 99, announced via Buckingham Palace that they received the vaccine via the palace's household doctor in early January. A royal source tells PEOPLE the monarch wanted to make news of her vaccination public in order to prevent speculation and inaccuracies. On Jan. 1, Denmark's Queen Margrethe, 80, became the first European sovereign to publicly receive a COVID-19 vaccine. And Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 83, were administered the vaccine on Jan. 13, the Royal Court announced.
Vice President Kamala Harris was the latest American lawmaker to be publicly inoculated with the novel coronavirus vaccine, receiving her first dose of the Moderna vaccine on television on Dec. 29. Live footage showed Harriswearing a face mask and rolling up her sleeve as her vaccine was administered by clinical nurse manager Patricia Cummings at Washington, D.C.'s United Medical Center, a public hospital that predominately serves an African American population, according to The Washington Post. "That was easy," Harris said after receiving her shot. "Thank you. I barely felt it." Harris then thanked the healthcare workers at United Medical Center, noting that they serve a community "that is often overlooked." "I want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It is relatively painless; it happens really quickly; it is safe," Harris said. She took her second dose publicly on Jan. 26.
President Joe Biden told reporters "I'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared, when it's available, to take the vaccine," on Dec. 21 while receiving his vaccine on the Christiana Care campus in Newark, Delaware. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm looking forward to the second shot." "The scientists and the people who put this together, the frontline workers, the people who were the ones who actually did the clinical work," Biden continued. "Just amazing ... We owe you big. We really do." On Jan. 11, he received his second dose live on camera, too.
0 Comment