President-elect Joe Biden said that Dr. Anthony Fauci, his chief medical adviser, urged him to be vaccinated against COVID-19 “sooner than later”.

But Biden told reporters as he traveled to Georgia to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates that he would do it “by the numbers” and he would get it done “publicly”.

The same conversations are ongoing in the White House, with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany saying that a number of senior Trump administration officials also will take the coronavirus vaccine publicly to “instill public confidence”. She declined to say when or whether President Donald Trump will take it.

Vaccinations are going first to health care professionals. The next priority is for residents of long-term care facilities to receive vaccinations because the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are most at risk.