SAN ANTONIO — Texas state Sen. José Menéndez, D-District 26, is among several state lawmakers to test positive for COVID-19, and in a two-minute video posted to social media over the weekend, he credited vaccines for potentially saving his life and the lives of his family members.
About two weeks ago, Menéndez disclosed that his 14-month-old granddaughter had tested positive for the virus following a trip to the emergency room. Just a short time later, he and most of his family members tested positive as well.
Despite being fully vaccinated, the senator dealt with some fairly severe symptoms.
“What I will tell you is that this COVID is nothing to play with. I unfortunately suffered very high fevers, chills, uncontrollable shaking, difficulty breathing, difficulty avoiding severe congestion, tightness in [my] chest,” he said. “And I believe that had I not been vaccinated I’d probably be either in an ICU or may not even be here.”
Menéndez said that although he struggled with symptoms, most of his family members remained asymptomatic or only experienced mild symptoms.
“The point of this is that we need to protect everyone that can’t protect themselves. All of you who can but have not yet vaccinated for whatever reason, please get vaccinated,” Menéndez continued. “And then everyone else, let’s all wear our masks in public and stop the spread of this cruel and evil disease.”
Menéndez is certainly not the only Texas politician to test positive for the virus.
Gov. Greg Abbott last week disclosed that he tested positive. The governor over the weekend reported he is now testing negative, remained asymptomatic throughout infection but remains in isolation at the behest of doctors.
On Sunday, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls said that he’s tested positive for COVID-19 and has moderate symptoms.
Nehls, a Republican from the Houston area, said Saturday that he is fully vaccinated and hopes the symptoms pass soon.
“All Americans are free to make their own health decisions, but I strongly encourage getting vaccinated,” he wrote on Twitter Saturday. “It is scientifically proven to drastically reduce the risk of severe illness & death from COVID.”
Nehls, the former sheriff of Fort Bend County who was elected to Congress last year, had said on Wednesday that a close family member had tested positive.
In February, Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright died a few weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.