Joint Base San Antonio > News

ARNORTH military hospital support to FEMA begins in Washington, continues in five states
October 20, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 40 military medical personnel deployed to Washington in two cities to support civilian healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in two local hospitals... MORE

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho – U.S. Army Capt. Alexis Acuna, a critical care nurse assigned to the 627th Hospital Center, provides care to a COVID positive patient during the COVID response operations at Kootenai Health regional medical center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Sept. 26, 2021. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing flexible Department of Defense support to the whole-of- government COVID response. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Kaden D. Pitt)

Community participation in Mission Thanksgiving canceled amid COVID-19 concerns
October 20, 2021 — For the second year in a row, community participation in a program that connects Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Soldiers with volunteer hosts for Thanksgiving is canceled... MORE

San Antonio Market expands Pfizer booster vaccine availability
October 7, 2021 — The Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston COVID-19 Vaccination Site and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center are offering the booster shot for Pfizer recipients according to CDC recommendations starting Oct. 7. ... MORE

Columbus Day weekend closures for JBSA's screening, testing and vaccine sites
October 6, 2021 — The following are Columbus Day weekend closures for Joint Base San Antonio's COVID-19 screening/testing sites... MORE

COVID-19 religious accommodation requests for Air Force members: what to expect
October 5, 2021 — For Airmen seeking a religious accommodation request, chaplains play a critical role in ensuring each request is fully considered in accordance with DAFI 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force. ... MORE

ARNORTH military hospital support to FEMA begins in Tennessee, continues in five states
September 23, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 20 military medical personnel deployed to Tennessee to support civilian healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in local hospitals... MORE

U.S. Navy Lt. Natashja Mortam, a nurse assigned to the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, or NMRTC, from Twentynine Palms, California, dons her personal protective equipment.

Myths and facts about the vax — debunking common COVID-19 vaccine myths
September 23, 2021 — The COVID-19 vaccine has been mandated across the Department of Defense and despite its demonstrated effectiveness and safety, a host of myths have left some Airmen and Guardians hesitant to receive it. While social media posts and some news outlets may make it harder to keep up with what is fact or fiction, the science is clear … approved COVID-19 vaccines work... MORE

The COVID-19 vaccine has been mandated across the Department of Defense and despite its demonstrated effectiveness and safety, a host of myths have left some Airmen and Guardians hesitant to receive it. While social media posts and some news outlets may make it harder to keep up with what is fact or fiction, the science is clear … approved COVID-19 vaccines work. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Update: San Antonio Market COVID-19 booster shots
September 21, 2021 — The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to assess the efficacy and safety of a COVID-19 booster dose for the general population. Until a final decision is made and the Department of Defense receives official guidance, the San Antonio Market is not administering the booster dose to our patients and staff at this time. ... MORE

JBSA commander issues mandatory COVID-19 vaccine order
September 15, 2021 — All active duty Air Force personnel currently assigned to Joint Base San Antonio must receive their initial COVID-19 vaccine dose by Sept. 28, per an order signed Sept. 14 by 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA Commander Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller... MORE

The graphic displays vaccination information for Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.

BAMC Training Support Center
Vaccination hours: Monday through Friday by appointment
Walk-in hours: Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center
Vaccination hours: Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m
Walk-in hours: Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

After the ventilator, COVID-19 survivor advocates for vaccine
September 15, 2021 — A nearly fatal bout with COVID-19 drove the Harris family to do something they had been on the fence about before. They got the vaccine. With a wife and three sons, Tim Harris was not willing to take another gamble with his life... MORE

After the ventilator, COVID survivor advocates for vaccine

Reserve Citizen Airmen must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated this year
September 13, 2021 — The Air Force has directed that all Reserve Citizen Airmen in part-time statuses be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 2, 2021, and all Reservists on active duty or in Active Guard and Reserve status must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 2, 2021... MORE

A member of team Homestead receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination event during the August Unit Training Assembly Aug. 7, 2021 at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Allissa Landgraff)

ARNORTH military hospital support to FEMA begins in Idaho, Arkansas, expands in Alabama
September 7, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 60 military medical personnel deployed in three, 20-person teams, each to one of three states – Idaho, Arkansas and Alabama – to support civilian healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in local hospitals... MORE

Soldiers provide COVID-19 care in Idaho.

Air Force announces mandatory COVID-19 vaccine implementation guidelines for Airmen, Guardians
September 7, 2021 — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has released a service implementation plan that requires Airmen and Guardians to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the following dates, unless seeking an exemption... MORE

DAF announces mandatory COVID vaccine implementation guidelines for Airmen, Guardians.

BAMC expands COVID-19 vaccine program to inpatients
September 2, 2021 — In an effort to protect its most vulnerable patients from illness, Brooke Army Medical Center is now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all hospital inpatients ages 12 and older. BAMC administered its first inpatient vaccine to a postpartum patient Sept. 1... MORE

Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Sep. 2, 2021. BAMC is now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to all hospital inpatients ages 12 and older.

HHS warns against COVID-19 scams
August 31, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to COVID-19. Scammers are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams. ... MORE

If you suspect COVID-19 health care fraud, report it immediately online or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Defense Secretary mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for service members
August 26, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum Aug. 24 directing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for service members, a Pentagon official said Aug. 25. John F. Kirby, Pentagon press secretary, said only Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines will be mandatory... MORE

Soldier administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

Additional COVID-19 vaccination dose recommended for immunocompromised
August 25, 2021 — The CDC is recommending that people whose immune systems are moderately to severely immunocompromised, receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine... MORE

A 59th Medical Wing medic vaccinates a San Antonio Military Health System beneficiary Feb. 6 at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

DOD intends to mandate Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Pentagon official says
August 24, 2021 — 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... MORE

A female soldier wearing a face mask and gloves points a finger and watches as another soldier, whose face mask is pulled down beneath his chin, swabs his nose.

59th MDW: COVID-19 drive-through testing reinstated at WHASC
August 19, 2021 — Due to an increase in cases, the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland is conducting drive-through COVID-19 testing available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday on the first floor of the parking garage... MORE

Due to an increase in cases, the WHASC is conducting a drive-through COVID-19 testing available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first floor of the parking garage. Since the testing site uses the polymerase chain reaction tests, the results are available to patients through TRICARE Online within 24 to 72 hours.

ARNORTH provides operational command of military hospital support to FEMA in Louisiana
August 19, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 20 military medical personnel from the U.S. Navy will deploy to Louisiana as part of a Department of Defense COVID-19 response operation... MORE

U.S. Airmen from Brooke Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas and Kessler Medical Center, Biloxi, Miss., assigned to U.S. Army North Task Force 46, get a tour of Kingman Regional Medical Center as part of in-processing at KRMC, Kingman, Ariz., March 2, 2021.