WEBVTT 00:09.140 --> 00:11.210 Hello there . I'm Lloyd Austin , 00:11.210 --> 00:13.630 secretary of Defense . I wanted to 00:13.630 --> 00:15.340 speak to you today about the 00:15.340 --> 00:17.940 coronavirus and about how we can all 00:17.940 --> 00:20.280 chip in to defeat this pandemic once 00:20.280 --> 00:22.502 and for all . As you've probably seen , 00:22.502 --> 00:24.447 we're going to be sending teams of 00:24.447 --> 00:26.447 active duty professionals to assist 00:26.447 --> 00:28.336 FEMA in administering vaccines at 00:28.336 --> 00:30.447 select locations around the country . 00:30.447 --> 00:32.669 This , of course , comes on top of mawr 00:32.669 --> 00:35.440 than 20,000 National Guardsmen and 00:35.440 --> 00:37.890 women assisting state and local 00:37.890 --> 00:40.060 authorities across the country as part 00:40.060 --> 00:42.282 of the whole of government respond . In 00:42.282 --> 00:44.504 other words , we're pitching in to help 00:44.504 --> 00:46.616 our fellow citizens as quickly and as 00:46.616 --> 00:48.790 safely as possible . We're part of a 00:48.790 --> 00:50.850 larger team of federal and state 00:50.850 --> 00:52.850 agencies , and we're working hard , 00:52.850 --> 00:54.961 leaning in to be productive . Members 00:54.961 --> 00:57.128 of that team were also working hard to 00:57.128 --> 00:59.190 make vaccines available . Toe every 00:59.190 --> 01:01.246 member of the D . O . D family . Who 01:01.246 --> 01:03.468 wants one ? You know , we've approached 01:03.468 --> 01:05.760 this effort deliberately and in phases , 01:06.140 --> 01:08.360 making sure that we prioritized our 01:08.360 --> 01:10.650 frontline . Healthcare workers are 01:10.650 --> 01:13.250 deploying troops in those most 01:13.250 --> 01:15.350 vulnerable . But as we continue to 01:15.350 --> 01:17.620 advance through these phases , we wanna 01:17.620 --> 01:20.380 make sure that all of you have the 01:20.390 --> 01:22.501 information that you need to make the 01:22.501 --> 01:25.330 best decisions for your families . And 01:25.330 --> 01:27.330 so I encourage you to visit the CDC 01:27.330 --> 01:29.497 website for more information about the 01:29.497 --> 01:31.810 vaccines , as well as our own site at 01:31.820 --> 01:33.820 defense dot gov . And when you do , 01:33.820 --> 01:35.820 you'll see that these vaccines have 01:35.820 --> 01:38.042 undergone intensive safety monitoring , 01:38.042 --> 01:40.153 and you'll also see that they're safe 01:40.153 --> 01:42.740 and they are effective , and you'll see 01:42.740 --> 01:44.860 that millions of your fellow citizens 01:44.860 --> 01:47.500 have already taken them with little to 01:47.500 --> 01:50.450 no side effects . I've taken it myself . 01:51.240 --> 01:53.280 After talking with my doctor . I 01:53.280 --> 01:55.447 believe it was the right thing to do , 01:55.920 --> 01:59.170 not only for my health , but also for 01:59.170 --> 02:01.670 my ability to do the job and to 02:01.670 --> 02:04.003 contribute to our readiness . Of course , 02:04.003 --> 02:05.781 I'll also still practice social 02:05.781 --> 02:08.003 distancing , and I'll still wear a mask 02:08.003 --> 02:09.948 while I'm here in the Pentagon and 02:09.948 --> 02:12.003 everywhere else I go , so we'll need 02:12.003 --> 02:14.003 your support in that regard . But I 02:14.003 --> 02:16.114 encourage you to have that discussion 02:16.114 --> 02:18.281 with your primary care physician about 02:18.281 --> 02:20.503 taking the vaccine , and if you believe 02:20.503 --> 02:22.720 as I did that it's the right thing for 02:22.720 --> 02:24.730 you . I hope that you'll consider 02:24.730 --> 02:27.190 accepting it when it's offered to you 02:27.200 --> 02:29.570 and finally thank you for all that you 02:29.570 --> 02:31.800 and your families do each and every day 02:31.800 --> 02:34.540 to keep our country safe , I'd ask that 02:34.540 --> 02:36.707 you please take care of yourselves and 02:36.707 --> 02:39.370 your teammates . And please do what you 02:39.370 --> 02:43.150 can to keep each other safe . Thank you .