Most officials who have received vaccinations work for the President’s executive office, which means they operate within the White House complex, either in the West Wing or the Eisenhower Executive Office building next door. Dozens of staff members still work remotely, but the White House prefers vaccinations for people working on the premises and intends to eventually vaccinate all staff members, an official told CNN.
Even with the vaccinations, White House officials still wear masks on site and work a lot from home or take part in virtual meetings from their offices.
The staff, including those who worked remotely, came to the Eisenhower building on Tuesday for their first vaccinations.
White House spokesman Kevin Munoz told CNN that the latest round of vaccinations took place after about three dozen members of the senior staff, national security team and incoming cabinet members received their first doses in early January.
He said the White House medical team “is working to vaccinate all staff members over the next week to ensure a COVID-safe work environment around the president and key leaders who have national security and the continuity of government responsibilities.”
The Biden administration’s vaccination effort marks a clear break from former President Donald Trump’s approach to coronavirus security in the White House.
Trump and other White House staffers have frequently disregarded U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines during the pandemic, such as wearing face masks and social distances.
But in Biden’s emerging government, many people in the White House are working from home and will continue to do so for days and weeks to come.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a news conference last week that all staff entering the complex would have to undergo a Covid test, wear an N95 mask and adhere to the social distance guidelines. keep. Acrylic glass barriers were also mounted on desks in the West Wing, something that Trump officials resisted.
“The president has asked us to be a model for the American people as well, and that is of great importance to us, too,” she said.
Although many of the West Wing offices have been designated, the building will not be possible despite the pandemic of late last year. The few places that have implemented a number of work-from-home requirements under Trump, such as the National Security Council, will continue to allow officials to work remotely.
This story was updated on Tuesday with additional information.
CNN’s Kevin Liptak and Paul LeBlanc contributed to this report.