MEDCoE trainees receive the COVID-19 vaccine

Photo By Tish Williamson | Pvt. Michael Giuffrida, 68K Medical Laboratory Specialist in training at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, is administered the first dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by Sgt. 1st Class Victoria Romero, MEDCoE 68W Combat Medic cadre augmenting staff at the Brooke Army Medical Center’s Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Vaccine site on April 15, 2021. Giuffrida, who is originally from Philadelphia said he chose to receive the shot, “to protect my battle buddies.”  

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES

04.20.2021

Story by Tish Williamson 

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –Trainees assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence, or MEDCoE, began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas vaccine site on April 15. As Brooke Army Medical Center, or BAMC, announced that vaccines are now available to all beneficiaries, 16 and older, MEDCoE trainees were offered the vaccine as a tier II priority.

Cmd. Sgt. Major Clark Charpentier is the MEDCoE’s Command Sergeant Major and Senior Enlisted Advisor. “With tier II opening up, and current projections of BAMC’s vaccine allotments, MEDCoE should be able to at least offer the first dose of vaccine to all of our staff, cadre and eligible students within the next few weeks,” Charpentier said. “This will greatly facilitate training and ultimately, improve readiness as our Soldiers report to their operational units healthy and ready to go.”

Typically, MEDCoE trains and educates over 37,000 officers and enlisted soldiers annually in a variety of medical areas of concentration and military occupational specialties from doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians to medical laboratory specialists, respiratory specialists, surgical lab technicians and combat medics. MEDCoE students attend at least one of 21 initial entry training courses, 74 professional military education courses or 162 functional or graduate training courses at some point throughout their Army medicine career. Hospital based training is also conducted for 33 MEDCoE courses at various military medical treatment facilities.

During the last 54 weeks since MEDCoE has been operating under COVID-19 conditions, the institution has conducted over 900 classes and graduated over 22,000 students.

Maj. Gen. Dennis LeMaster, MEDCoE Commanding General said he is thankful that Trainees are starting vaccinations and feels positive about returning to a sense of normalcy within the command. “I want to thank the BAMC team and Army North for taking on this monumental task” MG LeMaster said. He also thanked the Soldiers and Civilians assigned to the command for their patience as the medical professionals progressed through the tiers. “I want to thank our teammates who are choosing to get vaccinated.”

Instructors assigned to MEDCoE began receiving the vaccine along with eligible tier Ib personnel at the end of January. Select 68W combat medic and 68C practical nursing specialist trainees tasked to augment BAMC personnel at the Fort Sam Houston Vaccine Site also received the shot as front line workers. Getting students vaccinated is a major milestone to keeping the training pipeline open.

Pvt. Michael Giuffrida, a 68K Medical Laboratory Specialist originally from California, is in advanced individual training at MEDCoE. After receipt of the vaccine, personnel are required to wait 15 minutes before departing the vaccine site to ensure there are no immediate adverse side effects. While waiting for departure alongside his fellow 68Ks, Giuffrida said he chose to receive the shot, “to protect my battle buddies.” He never considered turning down the vaccine and says he hopes as many people get the shot as possible so things can return to normal.

The San Antonio Military Health System is administering the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine under special authorization by the Food and Drug Administration on a voluntary basis to Department of Defense Soldiers and Civilians. The vaccine, which is administered in two doses 21 days apart, is expected to have a 95 percent efficacy rate following receipt of the second dose, according to the CDC website.

Personnel who do not have at least 21 days remaining on JBSA before departure to follow-on training or units of assignment are not eligible to begin the shot series with MEDCoE. Those personnel will begin the vaccine series upon arrival at their next duty station.
BAMC’s COVID-19 vaccination site is located in the Training Support Center on main post Fort Sam Houston, building 4110, 2536 Garden Avenue; walk-ins are not permitted. MEDCoE personnel are notified about their vaccine appointment through their unit. Beneficiaries can book their appointment 24/7 on TRICARE Online, https://www.tricareonline.com, or call CAMO during duty hours at 210-916-9900.

For more information on the DoD’s vaccine program, visit https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Combat-Support/Public-Health/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccine-Efforts.

For information on the SAMHS vaccine program, visit https://www.jbsa.mil, or follow BAMC or WHASC on social media.

• Date Taken: 04.20.2021
• Date Posted: 04.21.2021 10:47
• Story ID: 394339
• Location: FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, US