Pro-Trump senator Joni Ernst who claimed Covid deaths were a hoax just received the vaccine

With the arrival of a Covid-19 vaccine, there is now at least some hope of a relatively normal future.

But in America, the delivery of the vaccine to a senator who has a history of Covid-sceptic remarks has been met with anger.

Senator Joni Ernst tweeted a picture of herself receiving the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Sunday. Captioning the post she wrote:

“Today, at the recommendation of the Office of the Attending Physician, I received the first dose of the #COVID19 vaccine.”

In September, Ernst, the senator for Iowa,  peddled the conspiracy theory that doctors were inflating Covid deaths for money, saying she was “so sceptical” of official figures.

While in conversation with a constituent, she reportedly claimed: “These healthcare providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if Covid is tied to it, so what do you think they’re doing?”

Ernst was asked to explain her comments after the event. Rather than distancing herself from the conspiracy theory, she instead reiterated the same unfounded remarks:

“They do get reimbursed higher amounts if it’s a Covid-related illness or death,” adding. “I heard the same thing on the news. … They’re thinking there may be 10,000 or less deaths that were actually singularly Covid-19. … I’m just really curious. It would be interesting to know that.”

With the news that Ernst has received the vaccine before thousands working on the frontline in healthcare, people were naturally outraged.

It follows a pattern of politicians receiving the vaccine before many healthcare workers, as Vice President Mike Pence also received his first dose live on TV.

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