Washington, D.C. – In response to Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations' hearing on the COVID-19 vaccine, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) drafted an op-ed for the Denton Record Chronicle to stress the importance, safety, and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Congressman is appreciative of the efforts made by Denton County Public Health, Tarrant County Public Health, and the volunteers working out of Texas Motor Speedway and other vaccine hubs to help vaccinate the 26th District of Texas.  

Everyone should take advantage of historic development of COVID-19 vaccines
By Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
March 23, 2021
Published Denton Record Chronicle

One year ago, if you had asked public health experts if there would be a safe and effective vaccine to protect us against the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) less than 12 months after learning about this novel virus, they would have declared it unlikely and pointed to the lengthy approval process for prior vaccines. Had you told them there would be not one but three safe and highly effective vaccines available, they would have declared it a medical miracle.

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Whether it be the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine, these vaccines are our tickets to living life as free as we did before, ending restrictions on movement and returning to normalcy. With these vaccines, we will be able to safely hug our grandchildren again, enjoy life’s celebrations with friends and family, and return to places of worship with our communities. These vaccines have all undergone rigorous studies and are nothing short of effective in protecting against the severity of this virus and against hospitalization. In fact, these vaccines are even more effective than the yearly flu vaccine.

There have been too many rumors and rampant disinformation on the safety and necessity of the COVID-19 vaccine, and as a doctor, I assure you that getting a vaccine is a far better option than getting COVID-19 and putting yourself or someone you love in the hospital or a grave. These vaccines are safe. These vaccines are effective. And these vaccines were developed based on facts and science.

Just like Donald and Melania Trump, I too have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. I take the Hippocratic Oath very seriously, and I would not recommend this vaccine if I did not believe it was safe; it was developed using the best science available....

We are fortunate to live in this country and in the state of Texas. This is a country where our freedoms have allowed American innovation to bring us toward the end of this pandemic. We are also fortunate to live in a country where we have the freedom to decide — but as a doctor, I urge you to consult with your physician and consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The health and wellness of you, your family and your community depend on it.

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