MIAMI, Florida – Department of Defense (DOD) forces are in Miami to assist the state, federal government, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to South Floridians.
Appointments and walk-ins will occur at the Miami Dade College North Campus over the next eight weeks to all eligible recipients.
"This is a state-run and federally supported operation, and we are happy to be here to help Floridians," said Karyn Swoopes, a FEMA external affairs, media relations, and congressional and intergovernmental affairs manager. "FEMA is here, along with our partners with the Department of Defense, to support that effort."
Swoopes said the DOD's support has been amazing, and a great partnership has formed between the two. They're able to sync up daily to understand where they are in the mission and how effective they're being.
" We are working for FEMA, who is working for the state, and those lines have not been blurred," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Buck Carroll, commander of 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, and the Miami Vaccination Support Team. "It has truly been a combined operation."
That operation delivered over 1,500 vaccinations on the first day.
"It just feels so good to be here assisting the people of Florida," said U.S. Army Pvt. Ciara Medina, a pharmacy technician with Medical Department Activity – Alaska (MEDDAC-AK). "The FEMA people have been nice, and it's great to be here working alongside them to help the state execute the vaccination mission."
Certified nurse contractors joined their state and federal counterparts at the site to assist vaccinations efforts.
"Working alongside military people it's a new experience for me," said Charmeline Jules, a nurse practitioner with Trinity Health Agency. "They are capable of doing a lot of what nurses are actually do, they're excited to be here, and they're excited to be helping with humanity."
All these forces are working together to combat the spread of COVID-19 and distribute the vaccination to as many people as possible, working together as a team to help the community.
U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19.
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2021 14:35 |
| Story ID: | 391157 |
| Location: | MIAMI, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. Army Assists Florida COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts, by SGT Brandon Bruer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
