Charlie Baker, top lawyers are tearing up people who ‘cut the line’ for a blow

Congressional staff members and others who “cut the line” past high-risk essential workers and vulnerable seniors have been called in by Gov. Charlie Baker for their vaccine piggishness.

“I don’t understand why a lot of people who cut the line, cut it,” Baker said in response to a question from a Herald reporter at a press conference Wednesday. “I do not do it.

“It doesn’t make sense to me, and I think it doesn’t match the message we’ve all tried to send on this, that is, we recognize and understand that everyone would like to be vaccinated today, there are people who are at a much higher risk, ”he said, adding that these people should be given priority.

The Massachusetts Senior Action Council chief also lambasted those who received the vaccine early.

“Once again, those who have influence and means take precedence over those in need,” Mass Senior Action Council president Edna Pruce wrote to the Herald. “Once again, we find that health care is distributed rather than provided. Once again, we see elected “leaders” taking – instead of serving. “

Baker also reiterated his promise on Wednesday that he and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito would not get the blow early.

“We believe that although we work a lot, we are not – from our point of view – worthy of the line,” said Baker.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to Congressional staff after many representatives and senators received their first doses. This week, the Congressional attending physician announced that there was a limited supply of vaccine available to staff members.

“The Attending Physician’s Office is ready to vaccinate two staff from each member’s personal office, four from each committee chair and four from each grading minority,” Dr. Brian Monahan wrote in a note.

“The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to Congress reflects a fraction of the first tranche of
vaccines that have been distributed across the country, ”he wrote.

Massachusetts Congressional staff have contacted the physician’s office for further guidance and recommendations on this policy.

Some Bay State elected officials have already received the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, including U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and U.S. Representatives Katherine Clark, Ayanna Pressley and James McGovern.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also received the vaccine, as did former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, now U.S. Senator from Utah.