(BBC) President-elect Joe Biden has received his first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, saying he was given the injection to show Americans that it is “safe to take”.
Mr Biden is joining a growing number of political leaders to get the injection, including Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
On Sunday, the presentation for a second vaccine, by Moderna, approved last week began.
It is said that more than 500,000 Americans are now vaccinated.
“I’m doing this to show that people should be ready when it becomes available to take the vaccine,” said Mr Biden of Newark, Delaware, where he had the injection live on television. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
He said the Trump administration “deserves some credit” for launching the country’s vaccine program.
Mr Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, received her first dose earlier in the day, the president-elect said. Mr Biden’s running mate, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are expected to receive their first shootings next week.
The Biden team has set a goal of 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in the US during the administration’s first 100 days at the White House.
During the pandemic, the US has recorded more than 18 million cases and 319,000 deaths.