Congressman Stephen F. Lynch tested positive for COVID-19, his office said on Friday, making him the second member of the Massachusetts parliamentary delegation to report contracting the virus in approximately 24 hours.
Lynch received a positive test result on Friday “after a member of the Boston congressman’s office tested positive earlier in the week,” said Molly Rose Tarpey, a spokeswoman for the South Boston Democrat, in a statement. communicated.
Tarpey said that Lynch “received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine and subsequently received a negative COVID-19 test before attending President Biden’s inauguration. As long as Mr. Lynch remains asymptomatic and feeling well, he will be quarantined and will vote by proxy in Congress over the next week. “
She did not immediately answer a question from the Globe about exactly when Lynch received the second photo from Pfizer.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two injections, three weeks apart. The vaccine has a 52 percent effectiveness rate between the first and second doses, according to data evaluated by the FDA. The vaccine’s effectiveness rises to 95 percent seven days after the second dose.
Public health experts say it takes about two weeks after the second dose to achieve the full immunity provided by the vaccine. Even so, researchers still do not know whether vaccines prevent infection and transmission of the virus; they just know that vaccines should keep you from getting sick.
Lynch last week visited the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center, a day after authorities confirmed that nearly 2,000 doses of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine were spoiled when a cleaning company accidentally unplugged the electrical plug from a freezer.
Lynch’s announcement came after a revelation by representative Lori Trahan that she tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday. Trahan received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine while in Washington last week, according to a spokesman. Trahan was the first member of the Massachusetts delegation to test positive for the virus.
Earlier this month, Conan Harris, husband of MP Ayanna Pressley of Boston, tested positive after both were closed on Capitol Hill while supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building. At the time, the Pressley test was negative.
A spokesman for Pressley said the Boston Democrat was recently isolated after her husband’s positive test and did not contact Trahan or Lynch. Pressley, who also received the vaccine, “wishes the Reps. Trahan and Lynch make a quick recovery, ”he said.
Several other members of the delegation, contacted by Globe Friday, said they had recently tested negative. Nor did he report close contact with Lynch.
Deputy Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Worcester, received his second dose of vaccine on January 5, a spokesman said. “He saw Congressman Lynch outside briefly on the day of the inauguration, but he hasn’t been in the same space since and hasn’t had a positive result.”
Deputy Katherine Clark, a member of the leadership team of Mayor Nancy Pelosi, received her second dose on January 11. Melrose Democrat is tested regularly, “but will receive an additional test just in case,” said a spokeswoman.
Representative Seth Moulton also received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, according to a spokesman. Salem Democrat received its last negative result from the COVID-19 test on January 19. Moulton plans to take the test on Saturday morning “just in case,” said the spokesman.
Deputy Jake Auchincloss, a Newton Democrat, had both doses of the vaccine and recently tested negative, according to a spokesman. House Ways and Means President Richard Neal also recently tested negative and received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, a spokesman said.
Bill Keating, of Bourne, “was with his colleagues last week, but is feeling well,” said a spokeswoman by e-mail on Friday night. Keating sent his best wishes to his colleagues who tested positive.
“I wish Lori and Steve a speedy recovery and hope to see them soon,” he said in a statement.
Globe correspondent Jeremy C. Fox contributed to this story.
Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe. Victoria McGrane can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on twitter @vgmac.