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ARNORTH military hospital support to FEMA begins in Alabama, expands further in Louisiana
August 31, 2021 — At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 20 military medical personnel were deployed to Dothan, Alabama, and another 20 deployed to Alexandria, Louisiana, to support civilian healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in local hospitals... MORE

A man wearing a face mask, gloves and medical gown holds an oxygen tank.

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.

Air Force Marathon shifts to virtual race due to COVID-19 precautions
August 20, 2021 — The decision was made to protect the health and safety of more than 20,000 participants, volunteers and guests... 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

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.

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

AFW2 hosted its first live in-person event since the beginning of 2020 on Sunday, July 25th, at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas Rambler Fitness Center. Distinguished visitors and guest welcomed Team Air Force to the week long training event in preparation for the upcoming Department of Defense Warrior Games, September 12-22, in Orlando, Florida. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Melissa Espinales)

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

COVID-19 vaccinations available at BAMC, WHASC
August 10, 2021 — If you haven’t received your COVID-19 vaccine yet, it’s not too late to vaccinate!... MORE

Biden to approve SECDEF's request to make COVID-19 vaccine mandatory
August 10, 2021 — 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. ... MORE

Brooke Army Medical Center COVID-19 screening and testing site open
August 6, 2021 — The Brooke Army Medical Center screening and testing site, located on the first floor of the parking garage, is operational from 8 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday. No appointment is required. However, due to the uptick in COVID throughout the area, the wait times for testing may be longer... MORE

Spec. Diego Timoteo (right), an Army Combat Medic at Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, checks an incoming patient at BAMC’s drive-through COVID-19 testing area. Timoteo, a native of Brazil, recently earned his American citizenship.

Top military medical doctor predicts Coronavirus longevity
August 5, 2021 — COVID-19 and other such coronaviruses likely will stay in the environment and continue to mutate, said Army Lt. Gen. Ronald J. Place, Defense Health Agency director. ... MORE

A soldier wearing a mask holds a syringe with the needle inserted into a small bottle.

JBSA implements HPCON BRAVO PLUS, updates mask mandate
July 29, 2021 — JBSA officials have announced the implementation of Health Protection Condition BRAVO PLUS measures beginning July 30, 2021, and updated the installation mask wear policy. According to JBSA Guidance Memo No. 57, effective immediately, individuals are required to wear masks when indoors on federal installations regardless of vaccination status... MORE

METC reopens graduations to guests
July 28, 2021 — For the first time since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Medical Education and Training Campus is re-opening graduations and class closings to limited guests, beginning with the Air Force Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice program graduation Aug. 3... MORE

Medical Education and Training Campus Air Force students at graduation ceremony, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Active duty service members needed for COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness study
July 21, 2021 — A team of researchers is conducting an observational study involving active duty service members who have received COVID-19 vaccines. The Vaccine Effectiveness and Immune Response of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Active Military Personnel study aims to help the Defense Department better understand how well COVID-19 vaccines protect service members... MORE

Army Reserve couple supports COVID-19 federal response
July 19, 2021 — Soldiers from the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command mobilized in March 2020 to provide logistical support to military medical service providers and aid in the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

Capts. Paul and Holli Nitzsche, members of the 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

Don’t stop short: Completing vaccinations vital to slowing COVID-19
July 15, 2021 — Bexar County, Texas, boasts a growing population of over one and a half million residents age 12 and up, and over 1,241,000 of those residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Surprisingly though, only 1,028,077 residents, or 61.9%, are fully vaccinated, according to San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District as of July 13... MORE

Air Force nurse administers COVID-19 vaccine

Army offers helpful PCS resources as COVID-19 creates household goods shipment delays
July 14, 2021 — The COVID-19 pandemic has put strains on many aspects of normality around the world, and the large numbers of service members completing a permanent-change-of-station, or PCS, move this summer are seeing delays in household goods shipments due to private-sector shortages in labor, equipment and supplies... MORE

Photo of woman and child carrying boxes into a home.

New COVID-19 Delta Variant: What you need to know to stay safe
June 29, 2021 — A new and increasingly dangerous variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is rapidly sweeping across the globe. This new variant appears to spread faster, cause more severe disease and is more likely to result in hospitalization. Also, younger people appear to be more susceptible to the new strain, known as the Delta variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... MORE

Female military member administering vaccine to patient.

ARNORTH ends COVID-19 vaccination mission, leaders look back on effort
June 24, 2021 — With more than 5 million vaccinations administered, the Army has concluded its COVID-19 support mission, which found Soldiers helping others and building trust within some of the nation’s hardest-hit communities, Army leaders recently said... MORE