Congressman Stephen F. Lynch tested positive for COVID-19, his office said Friday, making him the second member of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to report the virus within about 24 hours.
Lynch received the positive test result Friday “after a staff member in the Boston congressman’s office tested positive earlier this week,” Molly Rose Tarpey, a spokeswoman for the South Boston Democrat, said in a statement.
Tarpey said Lynch ‘received the second dose of Pfizer vaccine and then received a negative COVID-19 test before attending President Biden’s inauguration. While Mr. Lynch will remain asymptomatic and feel good, he will place self-quarantine and will vote in Congress during the coming week. “
She did not immediately respond to a question from the Globe about when Lynch received the second Pfizer shot exactly.
Pfizer’s vaccine requires two injections, spaced three weeks apart. According to data reviewed by the FDA, the vaccine has an effectiveness of 52 percent between the first and second dose. The effectiveness of the vaccine rises to 95 percent seven days after the second dose.
Public health experts believe it takes about two weeks after the second dose to reach the full immunity that the vaccine provides. Even then, researchers still do not know whether the vaccines prevent infection and transmission of the virus; they just know that the vaccines should prevent you from getting sick.
Lynch toured the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center last week, one day after officials there confirmed that nearly 2,000 doses of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine had been spoiled when a cleaning contractor accidentally unloaded an electrical plug on a freezer has.
Lynch’s announcement follows a revelation from Representative Lori Trahan that she tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday. According to a spokeswoman, Trahan received her first dose of coronavirus vaccine while in Washington last week. Trahan was the first member of the Massachusetts delegation to test positive for the virus.
Earlier this month, Boston man Conan Harris, the husband of Representative Ayanna Pressley, tested positive after both were locked up in the Capitol while supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building. Pressley tested negative at the time.
A Pressley spokeswoman said the Boston Democrat was recently in isolation following her husband’s positive test and that he had not yet come into contact with Trahan or Lynch. Pressley, who also received the vaccine, “wished representatives Trahan and Lynch a speedy recovery,” he said.
Several other members of the delegation, reached by the Globe Friday, said they had recently tested negative. No report also had contact with Lynch.
Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat in Worcester, received his second dose of vaccine on Jan. 5, a spokesman said. “He saw Congressman Lynch on Inauguration Day shortly outside, but he has not been in the same room since and has not tested positive.”
Representative Katherine Clark, a member of the leadership team Nancy Pelosi, received her second dose on January 11th. The Melrose Democrat is being tested regularly, but will receive an additional test as a precaution, ‘a spokesman said.
Representative Seth Moulton also had both doses of Pfizer vaccine, according to a spokesman. The Salem Democrat received his last negative COVID-19 test result on January 19th. Moulton plans to be tested on Saturday morning “out of an abundance of caution”, the spokesman said.
Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Democratic Newton, said both had vaccine doses and were recently tested negative, according to a spokesman. House Ways and Means chairman Richard Neal also recently tested negative and received two doses of coronavirus vaccine, a spokesman said.
Representative Bill Keating of Bourne ‘was with his colleagues last week, but feels good,’ a spokesman said in an email Friday night. Keating sent his best wishes to his colleagues who tested positive.
“I wish Lori and Steve a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing 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.