Charlie Baker, now eligible for coronavirus vaccine, says people were ‘justifiably angry’ at ‘folks in D.C.’ who cut the line

Gov. Charlie Baker says he’s not virtue-signaling by waiting his turn to get a coronavirus vaccine, but he does think people were “justifiably angry” when the “folks in D.C.” cut the line.

Baker, who’s 64, became eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine on Monday under his own guidelines. Members of Congress, regardless of their age, were able to get vaccinated as early as December as part of “continuity of government.”

“I’m doing what everybody else is doing. I pre-registered and at some point I’ll get access to an appointment and I’ll make one and I’ll go get vaccinated,” Baker said Wednesday on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.”

“I thought people were justifiably angry when all the folks in D.C. decided that they should get vaccinated first,” Baker continued. “It’s got nothing to do with virtue anything … there’s a process here and people should obey it.”

Baker’s office did not say whether the governor’s booked an appointment.

While other officials have gotten their shots publicly to dispel vaccine hesitancy, Baker dismissed the notion of a photo-op vaccination back in December, saying “there are plenty of people who can do public vaccinations who would be a lot more important than me.”

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, and U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Katherine Clark and James McGovern had all received their first shots by late December. U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan had one dose when she tested positive for COVID-19 in January, and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch received both doses before testing positive.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3d8nBdm