WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon’s initial corona virus vaccine will be administered at 16 security bases in the United States and abroad, making health workers, emergency service personnel and residents of military retirement homes a high priority, officials said Wednesday. Once the tax and vaccine supplies are available, military personnel and some military units preparing to deploy will provide some important national capabilities, such as nuclear armed groups and cyber security forces. Vaccines The automatic Pfizer vaccine should initially be available on an emergency basis. Officials said the shots could be made mandatory later if the vaccines are fully licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. A few dozen of the Pentagon’s leaders, including Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Millie, are among those receiving early vaccinations, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said. Some of those leaders will receive their shots in public to demonstrate the Pentagon’s confidence in vaccine protection, he said. Separately, as part of the military’s continued support for state and local governments fighting the epidemic, 45 military medical personnel will be sent to Wisconsin this week in support of four civilian hospitals. They act on a request for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Military paramedics are already assisting hospitals in Texas and North Dakota. The Pentagon is initially set to receive the 44,000-dose Pfizer vaccine, Hoffman said. Depending on when the FDA progresses to distribute and use the Pfizer vaccine. In the first evaluation of the Pfizer vaccine, FDA scientists confirmed this week that it provides strong protection, setting the stage for a green light for the government to launch the largest vaccination effort in the country’s history. Independent FDA advisers met Thursday to discuss whether there was enough evidence to recommend vaccinating millions of Americans. A final FDA decision and the first shots can follow in a few days. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Thomas McAfee said at a Pentagon news conference that although vaccines are voluntary, at least initially, he strongly recommends that everyone take the shot. He said the first dose should be ready for use within a day or two of the FDA. “Our advice to everyone is to get vaccinated, based on risk,” said Lt. Gen. Ronald Blaise, director of the Defense Health Organization. The 43,875-dose Pfizer vaccine is to be given in 16 different doses at different locations, and the distribution is to be expanded later to reach all members of the military and the Department of Defense civilians when more is available. Initial 16 sites: Texas Tornall Military Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas. Texas Wilford Hall in San Antonio, a joint venture of Texas. Washington Madigan Military Medical Center in Louis McCartney, Washington. Fort Ford Brock, Womeck Military Medical Center, North Carolina. Florida Naval Branch Health Hospital at Florida Naval Airport. Basic Alameda health services at the Coast Guard base in Alameda, California. Naval Medical Center in San Diego (which distributes quantities to the Naval Hospital in the camp at Pendleton, California). Distributed to Armed Forces Retirement Homes in Washington, DC). – New York National Guard Med ical command in Waterwall, New York. Doses of the initial Pfizer block vaccine will be administered at the Triple Military Medical Center in Honolulu and at three foreign locations: Alcoat Military Community Hospital in Camp Humphries, South Korea; Landstool Regional Medical Center in Germany, and Kadena Medical Facility at Kadena Airport in Japan. Full protection: Corona virus infection.
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