1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:09,140 --> 00:00:11,210 Hello there . I'm Lloyd Austin , 3 00:00:11,210 --> 00:00:13,630 secretary of Defense . I wanted to 4 00:00:13,630 --> 00:00:15,340 speak to you today about the 5 00:00:15,340 --> 00:00:17,940 coronavirus and about how we can all 6 00:00:17,940 --> 00:00:20,280 chip in to defeat this pandemic once 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,502 and for all . As you've probably seen , 8 00:00:22,502 --> 00:00:24,447 we're going to be sending teams of 9 00:00:24,447 --> 00:00:26,447 active duty professionals to assist 10 00:00:26,447 --> 00:00:28,336 FEMA in administering vaccines at 11 00:00:28,336 --> 00:00:30,447 select locations around the country . 12 00:00:30,447 --> 00:00:32,669 This , of course , comes on top of mawr 13 00:00:32,669 --> 00:00:35,440 than 20,000 National Guardsmen and 14 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,890 women assisting state and local 15 00:00:37,890 --> 00:00:40,060 authorities across the country as part 16 00:00:40,060 --> 00:00:42,282 of the whole of government respond . In 17 00:00:42,282 --> 00:00:44,504 other words , we're pitching in to help 18 00:00:44,504 --> 00:00:46,616 our fellow citizens as quickly and as 19 00:00:46,616 --> 00:00:48,790 safely as possible . We're part of a 20 00:00:48,790 --> 00:00:50,850 larger team of federal and state 21 00:00:50,850 --> 00:00:52,850 agencies , and we're working hard , 22 00:00:52,850 --> 00:00:54,961 leaning in to be productive . Members 23 00:00:54,961 --> 00:00:57,128 of that team were also working hard to 24 00:00:57,128 --> 00:00:59,190 make vaccines available . Toe every 25 00:00:59,190 --> 00:01:01,246 member of the D . O . D family . Who 26 00:01:01,246 --> 00:01:03,468 wants one ? You know , we've approached 27 00:01:03,468 --> 00:01:05,760 this effort deliberately and in phases , 28 00:01:06,140 --> 00:01:08,360 making sure that we prioritized our 29 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:10,650 frontline . Healthcare workers are 30 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:13,250 deploying troops in those most 31 00:01:13,250 --> 00:01:15,350 vulnerable . But as we continue to 32 00:01:15,350 --> 00:01:17,620 advance through these phases , we wanna 33 00:01:17,620 --> 00:01:20,380 make sure that all of you have the 34 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:22,501 information that you need to make the 35 00:01:22,501 --> 00:01:25,330 best decisions for your families . And 36 00:01:25,330 --> 00:01:27,330 so I encourage you to visit the CDC 37 00:01:27,330 --> 00:01:29,497 website for more information about the 38 00:01:29,497 --> 00:01:31,810 vaccines , as well as our own site at 39 00:01:31,820 --> 00:01:33,820 defense dot gov . And when you do , 40 00:01:33,820 --> 00:01:35,820 you'll see that these vaccines have 41 00:01:35,820 --> 00:01:38,042 undergone intensive safety monitoring , 42 00:01:38,042 --> 00:01:40,153 and you'll also see that they're safe 43 00:01:40,153 --> 00:01:42,740 and they are effective , and you'll see 44 00:01:42,740 --> 00:01:44,860 that millions of your fellow citizens 45 00:01:44,860 --> 00:01:47,500 have already taken them with little to 46 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:50,450 no side effects . I've taken it myself . 47 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,280 After talking with my doctor . I 48 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,447 believe it was the right thing to do , 49 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,170 not only for my health , but also for 50 00:01:59,170 --> 00:02:01,670 my ability to do the job and to 51 00:02:01,670 --> 00:02:04,003 contribute to our readiness . Of course , 52 00:02:04,003 --> 00:02:05,781 I'll also still practice social 53 00:02:05,781 --> 00:02:08,003 distancing , and I'll still wear a mask 54 00:02:08,003 --> 00:02:09,948 while I'm here in the Pentagon and 55 00:02:09,948 --> 00:02:12,003 everywhere else I go , so we'll need 56 00:02:12,003 --> 00:02:14,003 your support in that regard . But I 57 00:02:14,003 --> 00:02:16,114 encourage you to have that discussion 58 00:02:16,114 --> 00:02:18,281 with your primary care physician about 59 00:02:18,281 --> 00:02:20,503 taking the vaccine , and if you believe 60 00:02:20,503 --> 00:02:22,720 as I did that it's the right thing for 61 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,730 you . I hope that you'll consider 62 00:02:24,730 --> 00:02:27,190 accepting it when it's offered to you 63 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,570 and finally thank you for all that you 64 00:02:29,570 --> 00:02:31,800 and your families do each and every day 65 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,540 to keep our country safe , I'd ask that 66 00:02:34,540 --> 00:02:36,707 you please take care of yourselves and 67 00:02:36,707 --> 00:02:39,370 your teammates . And please do what you 68 00:02:39,370 --> 00:02:43,150 can to keep each other safe . Thank you .