Trump rejects plan for early vaccination at White House

President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday night that White House officials will not necessarily be given the first shot at the new Covid-19 vaccine.

“People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary,” Trump tweeted. “I have asked that this adjustment be made. I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time. Thank you!”

The president’s tweet followed a report in the New York Times that leading government officials would be among the first to get doses of the newly released vaccines, which are being counted on to slow the coronavirus pandemic. Almost 300,000 Americans have died during the pandemic, and more than 16 million have been diagnosed with it; numbers in recent weeks have been the highest since the coronavirus was first reported in the U.S.