US Vice-President Mike Pence has received the coronavirus vaccine live on TV, telling the audience and doctors: “I didn’t feel a thing.”
According to the White House, the aim of the move was to “promote the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and build confidence among the American people”.
Mr Pence’s wife and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received the jab at the televised White House event.
Infectious disease expert, Dr Fauci was also present but Trump was conspicuously absent.
Mr Pence, 61, received the first of two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab at 08:00 local time (13:00 GMT), along with his wife Karen and Mr Adams. He is the highest US official to be vaccinated so far.
“We gather here today at the end of a historic week to affirm to the American people that hope is on the way,” he told the crowd, after the number of newly-recorded US coronavirus deaths surpassed 3,000 for the third day in a row.
“Karen and I were more than happy to step forward before this week was out to take this safe and effective coronavirus vaccine that we have secured and produced for the American people,” he continued, calling it “a truly inspiring day”.
On Monday the US began rolling out the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which reportedly offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19.
More than 310,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US, which has recorded more infections and fatalities than any other country. More than 17 million cases have been recorded in the country since the start of the pandemic.
VP Mike Pence gets the COVID vaccine on live TV to boost public confidence in its safety and effectiveness.
(Karen Pence and Surgeon Gen. Adams went first.) pic.twitter.com/LK2W1QWLSL
— The Recount (@therecount) December 18, 2020
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