Doctor: Harris Is in ‘Excellent Health’
Vice President Kamala Harris is in “excellent health” according to a comprehensive medical examination conducted on Tuesday, according to a letter released by the White House.
Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, the physician to the president, wrote that the examination “assessed the Vice President’s overall health status and fitness to serve.”
“The Vice President is in excellent health and fully capable of successfully executing the duties of the Vice Presidency,” Dr. O’Connor wrote in the letter.
The examination, conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, included a physical exam, laboratory tests, and consultations with specialists.
The Vice President was “alert and energetic,” Dr. O’Connor wrote, adding that her blood pressure and heart rate were “normal” and that her musculoskeletal examination was “unremarkable.”
Dr. O’Connor also noted that the Vice President is “active” and participates in regular exercise, including strength training, yoga, and running.
Harris, who is 58, is the first woman, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office of vice president. She has been an active and visible vice president, traveling extensively and serving as a key representative of the administration on a number of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and racial justice.
The release of the Vice President’s medical report comes as President Biden, who is 80, is preparing to announce his decision on whether or not he will seek reelection in 2024. Biden, the oldest person to serve as president, has said he plans to run, but has not yet formally announced his decision.
In the meantime, the president has been emphasizing his health and fitness, frequently releasing details of his health checkups. In November 2022, Dr. O’Connor reported that Biden was “fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency,” but also noted that the president had “an occasional cough that cleared with treatment,” and that he was “occasionally stiff in the morning” due to arthritis.
The release of Harris’ medical report comes amidst a period of speculation about her health. Last month, the vice president was seen visibly shaking and coughing at events in California and South Korea. The White House attributed the symptoms to a “respiratory ailment” that the Vice President has had intermittently since April, and said she has received care from the White House Medical Unit.
The Vice President has not commented publicly about her health since the events in April and South Korea, but the release of her medical report serves to provide the public with greater transparency and reassurance about her fitness for office.
It is also notable that the release of Harris’ medical report coincides with the approaching anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The Vice President was in the Senate chamber during the attack, and her safety was at risk. The release of the medical report could be seen as a way to show that she is strong and healthy and capable of handling the challenges of the job.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris is in “excellent health” and fully capable of executing the duties of the Vice Presidency. The medical examination released on Tuesday by the White House offers assurance to the public that she is fit to serve.
