Joint Base San Antonio > News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021 DOD Warrior Games canceled due to COVID-19 Delta variant
August 18, 2021 — The 2021 DOD Warrior Games have been canceled due to the requirement to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our service members and local communities as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to affect the country... MORE

Monoclonal antibody treatment can help some COVID-19-positive patients
August 13, 2021 — Brooke Army Medical Center doctors at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston are working with the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council to help COVID-19 patients receive the monoclonal antibody treatment and potentially lessen the severity of the illness... MORE