Katko: Widespread Vaccine Adoption Key To Full Recovery

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement underscoring the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Americans can find a vaccination site at Vaccines.gov.

“As increasingly stronger COVID-19 variants begin to take hold, the homeland is left less resilient when a deadly virus is spreading like wildfire,” said Ranking Member Katko. “Luckily, the ingenuity unleashed by the Trump Administration and Operation Warp Speed has given us an accessible solution. While Americans should never be forced to take a vaccine, we all should be operating with the same facts. These vaccines are safe, miraculously effective against all variants, free, and easy to get. Furthermore, widespread adoption of the vaccine is critical to a return to international and business travel which will be heavy drivers of global economic recovery. I strongly encourage all Americans to weigh this decision with their doctor and not their Twitter feed. Americans can rest assured that there is an end in sight, but it will require each of us to do our part. I have no doubt we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than before. I urge everyone to look at the facts and strongly consider vaccination.”

Background

• Ranking Member Katko received the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020 and urged Americans to get inoculated as soon as they are able, in consultation with their doctor.

• In early March 2021, Ranking Member Katko introduced H. Res. 203calling on President Biden to declare “National COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Day” as a one-time federal holiday. The purpose is to increase public awareness of the important role of vaccinations for a return to pre-pandemic life and acknowledge the historic public-private partnerships, including Operation Warp Speed, that led to the successful development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time.

• Ranking Member Katko also spoke to USA Today about the importance of reassuring Americans of the efficacy of the vaccine while celebrating vaccination efforts.