Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rand Paul publicly feud over whether lawmakers should take the COVID-19 vaccine immediately

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rand Paul publicly feud over whether lawmakers should take the COVID-19 vaccine immediately

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Sen. Rand Paul feuded over whether members of Congress should receive a COVID-19 vaccine before healthcare workers and the elderly. 

Paul argued that it would be "inappropriate" to jump the line, while Ocasio-Cortez insisted that lawmakers need to set an example for Americans and help instill confidence about the safety of the vaccine.  

The government has made vaccines available to members of Congress in order to ensure continuity of government and protect national security.

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Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Monday defended her decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, argued that members of Congress shouldn't be vaccinated before healthcare providers and elderly Americans. 

"It is inappropriate for me - who has already gotten the virus/has immunity - to get in front of elderly/healthcare workers," Paul tweeted on Monday about his decision not to immediately get the vaccine. "Same goes for AOC or any young healthy person. They should be among last, not first."

The federal government has made vaccines available to top government officials, including all members of Congress, in order to ensure continuity of government and protect national security. Vice President Mike Pence and his