Vice President Mike Pence receives the Covid-19 vaccine in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on December 18. | Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The vice president just provided a rare example of White House coronavirus leadership.

Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams publicly received the Covid-19 vaccine shot at the White House on Friday morning. Pence described their decision to do so in front of cameras as part of an effort to build confidence among the public that getting the vaccine is a safe and responsible thing to do.

“Karen and I were more than happy to step forward before this week was out, to take the safe and effective coronavirus vaccine,” Pence said. “Building confidence in the vaccine is what brings us here this morning.”

#BREAKING: Vice President Mike Pence, Second