Total Force medics help support FEMA in vaccine efforts

Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexi Bosarge | U.S. Air Force Maj. Helena Guerra, 22nd Medical Group bravo flight commander, prepares her station for her next COVID-19 vaccine community member at the Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota, April 28, 2021. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexi Bosarge)  

ST. PAUL, MN, UNITED STATES

04.30.2021

Story by Senior Airman Alexi Bosarge 

Federal Vaccine Response

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA--As of April 29, approximately 1.5 million people worldwide have tested positive for COVID-19, making vaccination efforts more crucial than ever.

A team of approximately 140 Airmen from 24 bases spread throughout the U.S. have come together in St. Paul, Minnesota, to help support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the effort to vaccinate Americans from COVID-19.

The Community Vaccination Center (CVC) at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul is responsible for about 3,000 vaccinations daily.

“The CVC is crucial to the COVID-19 vaccine effort because it brings vaccines to areas of the country that are hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lt. Col. Michael Ballak, 64th Air Expeditionary Group detachment 3 commander. “The CVC allows us to bring vaccines to people who may not be able to or otherwise have the means to get the vaccine.”

Although the center opened less than a month ago, the total-force team has already vaccinated more than 38,000 community members as of April 28, 2021.

“I’ve been given an amazing opportunity to lead Airmen from 24 bases across the US,” said Ballak. “It is certainly a challenge to bring these Airmen together and have them operate as a team in such a short period of time. It’s truly a testament to the professionalism of our Airmen to come together as strangers, focus on the mission and get the job done. Being the commander of such an amazing team is certainly the highlight of my career.”

There are currently 39 other vaccination centers located in 19 states, not including the CVC now held in St. Paul. Keeping these centers up and running takes many joint service members from different job specialties, including maintenance, weather and communications.

“The medics are our linchpins in this process, but the countless other AFSCs supporting this site are instrumental in many other roles that allow our medical team to deliver those vaccines,” said Master Sgt. Timothy Lenker, 64th Air Expeditionary Group detachment 3 first sergeant.

The medics have also been working with several agencies since setting up the CVC to include the Minnesota Department of Health and other emergency management teams.

In a press release, Tim Walz, Minnesota state governor, said that the vaccination site will receive 168,000 doses over the course of eight weeks.

“Being a young Airman only two years into my career as a mental health technician and having the opportunity to support the COVID-19 vaccine mission is very humbling,” said Senior Airman Shelby Diedrich, a 22nd Healthcare Operations Squadron mental health technician. “It means a lot to me knowing we are making a difference in hopefully bringing back some normalcy since the start of the pandemic.”

The CVC will continue to serve the St. Paul community by administering vaccines for weeks to come. For more information about the CVC please visit https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/vaccine-support/vaccine-center.

• Date Taken: 04.30.2021
• Date Posted: 04.30.2021 17:14
• Story ID: 395249
• Location: ST. PAUL, MN, US