ARLINGTON, Virginia –
As we enter cold and flu season, Airmen and Guardians are encouraged to get their COVID-19 vaccination booster as soon as possible.
The virus continues to pose a risk to the health and welfare of service members, civilian employees and families.
Airmen and Guardians who receive the COVID-19 Bivalent Booster released in September are authorized a one-day special pass from their commander as long as the booster is administered by Dec. 1.
Department of the Air Force civilian employees who receive the current booster during the duty day through either the Defense Department or private providers are authorized up to four hours of administrative leave. Additionally, civilian employees may be granted up to two days of administrative leave to recover from any adverse reaction to the vaccination.
For service members, the timing of the one-day pass will be consistent with mission needs, members must present documentation and commanders may award the special pass retroactively to those members who have already received a booster. The Office of Personnel Management authorizes federal civilian employees up to four hours of administrative leave to receive a vaccine booster shot, which is designed to cover “the time it takes to travel to the vaccination site, receive the vaccination dose, and return to work.”
If federal employees take less than four hours to receive their booster shot, they should be granted only that amount of time in administrative leave, and employees cannot receive leave or overtime if they get their booster shot outside of their normal working hours.
Federal employees are also authorized up to four hours of administrative leave to accompany their family members who are receiving any dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Federal employees should obtain advance approval from their supervisor before being permitted to use administrative leave for COVID-19 vaccination purposes.
COVID-19 vaccinations include the initial one or two-shot series as well as any subsequent booster shots.
For the latest information on DAF COVID policies, statistics, news and resources, visit the DAF COVID-19 website Air Force Medicine link.