Aug. 30, 2022 Novavax COVID-19 vaccinations now available for service members The Defense Department is now offering Novavax as an option among the range of COVID-19 vaccines available at military medical treatment facilities.
Jan. 21, 2022 Medical leaders address COVID-19 concerns during Blue Star Families Forum Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that by mid-February, various states should start to show signs of turning around and begin to come down in their COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations.
Nov. 2, 2021 With vaccination deadlines approaching, commanders asked to use compassion in enforcement Military commanders have plenty of options for enforcing vaccine mandates short of resorting to actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Aug. 26, 2021 Secretary of Defense mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for service members Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum directing the secretaries of the military departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the department on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve who aren't yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Aug. 24, 2021 DOD intends to mandate Pfizer vaccine, Pentagon official says Since the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it's very likely the vaccine will soon become mandatory for Defense Department personnel, the Pentagon press secretary said.
Aug. 10, 2021 SECDEF requests mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for military By mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will request a waiver from President Joe Biden to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for service members, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
July 19, 2021 San Antonio military medical community becomes 7th medical 'Market' The San Antonio Military Health System became the San Antonio Market in a ceremony at Brooke Army Medical Center - the seventh such medical market in U.S. military medicine.
July 1, 2021 COVID-19 pandemic not over, concerns over Delta Variant growing Nearly 68% of active duty personnel have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose. But that still leaves many service members vulnerable to the delta variant of the virus, health officials at the Pentagon said.
May 21, 2021 DOD seeing encouraging COVID-19 vaccination rates, health leaders say As of today, the Defense Department has administered over 3.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to eligible DOD personnel, with 58% of active duty members having had at least one dose and 44% fully vaccinated, DOD health leaders said.
April 30, 2021 U.S. sends medical supplies to India to help in COVID-19 fight As part of a whole-of-government effort to slow and eventually end the pandemic, the United States is sending medical supplies and equipment to India as that country battles the most recent COVID-19 outbreak.
April 22, 2021 Defense leaders provide COVID-19 vaccination update As of this week, all Defense Department personnel and beneficiaries can get a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, Dr. Terry Adirim, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said.
April 9, 2021 DOD prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations to those deployed Defense Department health leaders said the DOD is rapidly administering COVID-19 vaccines in a tiered priority process to service members, DOD contractors and civilians and their families who are stationed overseas.
March 30, 2021 Entire force may be vaccinated for COVID-19 by early summer Depending on the rate at which the Defense Department can get vaccines, and the uptake rate, it's possible that by early summer, every person in the DOD could be vaccinated, the director of the Defense Health Agency said.
March 24, 2021 Top Defense official calls military's COVID effort 'phenomenal' Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks praised the military's work in both the mission to protect DOD people and readiness, and the mission to support federal, state and local officials.
March 12, 2021 DOD teams administer 50K vaccines a day, 500,000 in less than a month Defense Department vaccination teams are doing their part to protect Americans, reaching the milestone of getting 500,000 shots in arms in under a month, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Feb. 24, 2021 Defense Department has multiple priorities in COVID-19 battle When the COVID-19 virus spread to the United States, the Defense Department took on many roles: protecting its people, supporting the national pandemic response and ensuring the armed forces were ready to meet the national security mission.
Feb. 17, 2021 Two federally-supported vaccination sites open in California, more to follow Leaders from U.S. Northern Command and the Federal Emergency Management Agency held a virtual press conference to discuss COVID-19 relief efforts.
Feb. 9, 2021 Military, medical leaders discuss COVID-19 issues with Service Members Top military and medical officials gathered for a virtual town hall meeting with service members and their families to discuss COVID-19 vaccinations.
Feb. 9, 2021 Defense personnel to support FEMA in vaccination push Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced that 1,110 active duty service members will support five Federal Emergency Management Agency vaccinations centers.
Jan. 15, 2021 Largest multi-site distribution complex in DOD delivers for Operation Warp Speed Defense Logistics Agency Distribution began shipping Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Defense Department employees outside the continental U.S. as part of the Operation Warp Speed mission.