SANTA ANA, California (AP) – A California congressman contracted the coronavirus before receiving a second dose of the vaccine that would have improved his immunity.
Democratic Representative Lou Correa announced on Saturday that his test was positive when he returned home from Washington, DC, causing him to be quarantined away from his family.
His office said he received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 19 and did not receive the second injection, which would increase his immunity to about 95%.
“Although this diagnosis prevents me from participating in the long-awaited inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, I look forward to working with the new administration to unite our country and help millions of people devastated by the pandemic,” Correa said in a statement.
Correa, who represents central Orange County, is the latest member of the House to report a positive test, as dozens of lawmakers huddled together for protection during the January 6 uprising on the United States Capitol. Democratic Congressman Adriano Espaillat of New York said on Thursday that he contracted the coronavirus even after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.
Correa’s office said he was not in the security room, but outside helping the Capitol police. He was confronted last week by a group of Donald Trump supporters, some without masks, at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport.
The vaccine is about 52% effective after the first dose, said Pfizer-BioNTech. The vaccine’s effectiveness rises to about 95% after the second dose.