MCCONNELL CALLS IT ‘EASY DECISION’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he received the COVID-19 booster shot on Monday, calling his choice to get the third dose “an easy decision”

The 79-year-old senator announced that he got the booster dose while on the Senate floor, hours after President Biden received his third shot.

“I’m glad to share that a few minutes ago, I received a booster vaccination for COVID-19,” McConnell said. “All throughout the pandemic, I have followed the best advice from experts and especially from my own health care providers. It was an easy decision to receive a booster.”

In his speech, the Senate minority leader labeled himself a “lifelong champion of vaccinations,” having survived polio during his childhood and more recently promoting COVID-19 vaccines — even as other Republicans, including some GOP lawmakers, have refused or been more hesitant to get their initial shots.

“Mountains of evidence tell us these shots are safe, effective and dramatically shrink the odds of severe disease or death from COVID,” he said.

Eligibility: Biden and McConnell were both considered eligible for a booster because they are older than 65, but it may not be so cut and dry for members of the general public who are younger.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said individuals need to make their own assessment based on personal risk. Public health officials essentially made boosters available to anyone who identifies as a front-line worker (if they received Pfizer the first time), but the messaging has been focused primarily on the elderly and health workers.