Jan. 12, 2021
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) is voicing her support for House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff’s (R-Centre/Mifflin) call for elected state officials to be removed from the COVID-19 vaccine priority list in Pennsylvania.
Benninghoff sent a letter to Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Gov. Tom Wolf this week asking that members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, statewide elected officials and appointed state officials be removed from Phase 1C of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan and placed in line with the general public.
In the letter, Benninghoff stressed the importance of elected officials putting the well-being of their constituents first.
“We are representatives of the people and therefore should be treated no differently than those we represent,” said Pennycuick. “To be prioritized simply for the title we hold is disgraceful. Our at-risk populations and health care workers should be the first to receive the vaccine followed by the general public. I will wait my turn in favor of someone more vulnerable receiving the vaccine first.”
Benninghoff’s letter points out the latest state COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan seeks to further align Pennsylvania’s distribution plan with federal recommendations, and laudably make more Pennsylvanians eligible for the vaccine; however, it includes government officials in Phase 1C with at-risk Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions and others, while the federal recommendations remain silent on when government officials should be eligible.
“I think we need to lead by example and take care of our most vulnerable citizens first,” said Pennycuick.
Representative Tracy Pennycuick
147th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717-772-9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
reptracypennycuick.com