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Novavax COVID-19 vaccinations now available for service members
August 30, 2022 — The Defense Department is now offering Novavax as an option among the range of COVID-19 vaccines available at military medical treatment facilities... MORE

A service member administers an injection into someone's arm.

DOD places variety of troops on 'Prepare to Deploy'
January 28, 2022 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III placed a range of U.S. military units comprising 8,500 troops on a heightened preparedness to deploy should Russia invade Ukraine, and those units have been named, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Jan. 27... MORE

A man speaks at a news conference. A seated woman raises her hand slightly.

Medical leaders address COVID-19 concerns during Blue Star Families Forum
January 21, 2022 — 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... MORE

A hospital corpsman administers a vaccination.

Secretary of Defense has authority to order mandatory COVID-19 shots
November 16, 2021 — The Secretary of Defense has the authority needed to order all members of the military – including the National Guard – to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby... MORE

Two soldiers wearing face masks and gloves use syringes to draw medicine from a small bottle.

DOD civilian employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 22, official says
November 3, 2021 — Defense Department civilian employees must be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 shot series by Nov. 22 — that date includes the two-week waiting period for full vaccination effectiveness following the final vaccine dose, a DOD official said. ... MORE

A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccination.

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.

Services will make call on religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines
August 12, 2021 — For service members who have religious objections to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, the path for how they might seek an exception is defined by their individual military service's regulations, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Aug. 10... MORE

Hands hold a COVID-19 vaccine record card.

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

SECDEF seeks presidential approval for mandatory troop vaccinations by mid-September
August 9, 2021 — The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force... MORE

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.

DOD seeing encouraging COVID-19 vaccination rates
May 21, 2021 — As of May 20, 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... MORE

A sailor in personal protective gear handles a test kit at a drive-through COVID-19 test site.

Perna: Whole-of-America Operation Warp Speed effort 'remarkable feat'
December 31, 2020 — Operation Warp Speed has been moving quickly to get doses from Pfizer and Moderna out to everyone who needs them, the chief operating officer of the effort said... MORE

A sailor’s gloved hand extracting liquid from a vial.

Rollout of COVID-19 vaccine distribution is off to successful start, officials say
December 17, 2020 — COVID-19 vaccine shipments are being delivered to every site identified by public health jurisdictions in Operation Warp Speed's first wave of shipments, the Health and Human Service secretary said... MORE

A vial of vaccine is held in gloved hands..

Operation Warp Speed official: first COVID-19 vaccines arrive Dec. 14
December 14, 2020 — The nation's first vaccines for the COVID-19 virus are being distributed Dec. 14, following the emergency-use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, said Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna... MORE