Ilhan Omar furiously calls out ‘shameful’ politicians for receiving the vaccine before health workers

People have been divided over US Congress members receiving the coronavirus vaccine before other priority groups and now one of the most prominent progressive representatives is calling out her colleagues for doing so.

Democrat Ilhan Omar said it was “shameful” and “disturbing” that members were among the first to get the vaccine while most frontline workers and the elderly and sick have to wait.

She pledged not to take up the offer, tweeting “there is shortage of supply, we have to prioritise those who need it most”.

The representative for Minnesota added politicians were “not more important” than those making sacrifices everyday.

The Democratic congresswoman’s father died in June due to complications from Covid-19.

Lawmakers to get the vaccine include her fellow “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who chronicled her vaccination on a series of Instagram Stories and encouraged followers to ask questions about it.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Mike Pence were given the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine live on TV in an effort to convince the public to be vaccinated.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Marco Rubio and many other representatives have also shared their take-up of the vaccine.

However, Omar is being joined by an increasing number of lawmakers who have vowed not to take the jab so as not to jump the line.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard said she would not take the vaccine until the elderly can and urged congressional colleagues to join her.

Matt Gaetz, a Republican representative from Florida, also repeated the pledge.

Ocasio-Cortez defended herself from criticism from Republican senator Rand Paul, who claimed it was inappropriate for either of them to take up the vaccine, by noting potential misinformation could spread if politicians told people to get a vaccine they were not willing to take themselves.

In her Instagram posts, Ocasio-Cortez explained the Covid vaccine was made available to members of Congress as a national security measure, which is part of the 'continuity of governance' plan.

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