Dr. Joyce: Widespread Vaccination Is Key to Restoring Our Freedoms

Washington, D.C.? Congressman John Joyce M.D. (PA-13) yesterday emphasized the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the importance of widespread availability of vaccines. During the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation hearing entitled "A Shot at Normalcy: Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence," Dr. Joyce discussed opportunities to ensure equitable vaccine access in rural communities and counter vaccine hesitancy.

"Safe and effective vaccines are critical tools as our nation seeks to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic, restore our personal freedoms, and re-establish store our normal way of life as Americans," said Dr. Joyce. "As a physician, I believe that every American who wants a vaccine should be able to get one and this choice must remain between an individual and their doctor or health care provider."

During the hearing, Dr. Joyce also discussed the ramifications of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommendation to pause the use of the Johnson andamp; Johnson vaccine due to potential side effects, and whether it yielded a greater degree of confidence in the safety of the vaccine.

Watch Dr. Joyce's opening remarks here and his conversation with committee witnesses here.

Witnesses at the hearing included actor Nick Offerman, Dr. Saad Omer Director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, Dr. J. Nadine Garcia, Executive VP and COO of Trust for America's Health, Ms. Amy Pisani, Executive Director of Vaccinate Your Family, and Dr. Karen Shelton, Director Mount Rogers Health District, Virginia Department of Health.

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