President Donald Trump has revealed that he believes White House staff should have to wait to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, "unless specifically necessary".
Per the Daily Mail, the incumbent president's words come after reports that those who work closely with Trump will be the first be inoculated this week.
However, contradicting this report, Donald Trump tweeted last night (Sunday, December 13), that he has requested that White House staff receive the vaccine "somewhat later in the program".
Tweeting to his 88.6 million followers, the 74-year-old president said:
"People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary. I have asked that this adjustment be made.
"I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time. Thank you!"
As reported by The Guardian, Trump's tweet comes after National Security Council spokesperson John Ullyot had said that "Senior officials across all three branches of government will receive vaccinations pursuant to continuity of government protocols established in executive policy."
Ullyot added: "The American people should have confidence that they are receiving the same safe and effective vaccine as senior officials of the United States government on the advice of public health professionals and national security leadership."
The Mail adds that the first trucks carrying the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rolled out of Michigan’s manufacturing plant on Sunday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had Covid-19 should also get the vaccine.
However, the CDC does state on their official website: "Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before."
It adds: "The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long."
Of course, Trump and First Lady Melania revealed they had tested positive for Covid-19 back in October.
Rudy Giuliani, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, senior adviser Hope Hicks, and chief of staff Mark Meadows are just a few of Trump's closest associates who have also tested positive for the virus.
As reported by CNN, Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, said on Saturday:
"We expect 145 sites across all the states to receive the vaccine on Monday, another 425 sites on Tuesday, and the final 66 sites on Wednesday, which will complete the initial delivery of the Pfizer orders for vaccine."
Last week, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan from the UK made history by becoming the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.
Keenan, who is originally from Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, said: "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19, it's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year."
Per Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Research Center, more than 30,000 Americans died due to Covid-19 in the first 13 days of December.