last updated Jan. 14, 2020 1:20 PM EDT

 

Coronavirus: Vaccine Availability

The Department of Defense has announced its deliberate and phased plan to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to DOD personnel.

 
  • The Department remains committed to protecting our service members, civilian employees, and families around the globe; safeguarding our national security capabilities; and supporting the whole-of nation response
  • The U.S. government has purchased COVID-19 vaccines and is making them available to the DOD for distribution and administration to DOD personnel
  • DOD will use initial sites to validate distribution, administration, and reporting processes, which will then inform the Department’s selection of additional distribution sites
  • This data-driven, phased approach creates a feasible, scalable, safe plan for effective vaccine distribution, administration, and monitoring

Resources:

Key Considerations:

Who

Who will receive the vaccine.

The distribution process is phase driven to safely protect DOD personnel from COVID-19 as quickly as possible.

DOD Population Schema
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Where

Where DOD can most effectively accept delivery and administer the vaccine.

To see a list of vaccine administration sites, please click below.

DOD Population Schema
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When

When will availability will be expanded to more populations.

The Department’s plan to distribute and administer initial and future allocations of COVID-19 vaccine is deliberate and phased.

DOD Distribution Plan Phases
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Questions & Answers

Q: Will DOD require all service members to receive the vaccine?

A: No. The vaccine will be offered on a voluntary basis. Priority populations are highly encouraged to receive the vaccine. When formally licensed by the FDA, the DOD may require a vaccine for military personnel or personnel in specific fields, as is the case for the influenza vaccine.

Q: If I already had COVID-19, should I still get a vaccine?

A: Yes, because duration of immunity following COVID-19 infection is unknown, and the vaccine may be effective in protecting previously infected people.

Q: Will we still need to wear masks and practice physical distancing once a vaccine is available?

A: Yes. The intent of the vaccine is to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will still need to wear cloth face coverings and practice physical distancing to limit the spread of the virus. Additionally, we will not have enough vaccine initially to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccine and COVID-19 pandemic risks will continue. We will continue to recommend wearing masks and practicing physical distancing, for everyone, until pandemic risk of COVID-19 is substantially reduced.