WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the White House’s coronavirus task force, is scheduled to be vaccinated for COVID-19 Friday morning.

The public vaccination at the White House is intended to build public confidence in the vaccine which was recently approved, according to the administration.

“Be confident that we have cut red tape but we’ve cut no corners when it comes to the development of this vaccine,” Pence said during a visit to a vaccine production facility in Indiana Tuesday. “I look forward, in the days ahead, to receiving the vaccine myself and do so without hesitation.”

Pence’s wife, Karen, will also receive it as will Surgeon General Jerome Adams. The vaccination will take place at 8 a.m. EST.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that Pence, President Donald Trump, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris should be vaccinated to protect the nation’s top leaders.

Even though Trump had COVID in October and likely has antibodies that would protect him, scientists don’t know how long that protection lasts, Fauci said Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” 

The White House has not said when or whether Trump will be vaccinated.

Biden could be vaccinated early next week.

Besides Trump, many White House officials tested positive for the coronavirus this year including Pence’s chief of staff and several others in his immediate orbit.