WEBVTT 00:08.740 --> 00:10.962 Yeah . Good morning , everybody . And , 00:10.962 --> 00:13.680 uh , welcome to our briefing this 00:13.680 --> 00:16.580 morning , Um , focused on Kobe 00:16.580 --> 00:19.480 vaccinations , uh , in overseas 00:19.490 --> 00:21.490 destinations and locations . That's 00:21.490 --> 00:23.570 what we're hoping to provide some 00:23.570 --> 00:25.700 context on free this morning and to 00:25.700 --> 00:28.990 help us out . We're very pleased , 00:29.000 --> 00:31.280 uh , and delighted to have 00:31.290 --> 00:33.123 representatives from each of the 00:33.123 --> 00:35.346 services . And , of course , as you all 00:35.346 --> 00:37.401 know , uh , you know , General Place 00:37.401 --> 00:39.457 quite well . The director of Defense 00:39.457 --> 00:41.401 Health Agency , he's gonna shortly 00:41.401 --> 00:43.512 provide you with an update on vaccine 00:43.512 --> 00:45.512 distribution to D o D . Personnel , 00:45.512 --> 00:48.760 again with a focus on kokonas overseas 00:49.140 --> 00:51.251 vaccination efforts to our troops and 00:51.251 --> 00:53.362 beneficiaries . And he's being joined 00:53.940 --> 00:57.180 this morning by Army Major General Jill 00:57.180 --> 01:00.530 Farris , the interim G 357 U . S . Army 01:00.530 --> 01:02.530 Medical Command , Navy Rear Admiral 01:02.530 --> 01:05.090 Gail Shaffer , Deputy Surgeon General 01:05.100 --> 01:07.322 of the United States Navy and Air Force 01:07.322 --> 01:09.489 Major General Robert Miller , director 01:09.489 --> 01:11.489 of Medical operations Office of the 01:11.489 --> 01:13.656 Surgeon General . After they each have 01:13.656 --> 01:15.544 a few moments to provide you some 01:15.544 --> 01:17.656 context and then we'll open it up for 01:17.656 --> 01:20.250 from some Q and A with them . And with 01:20.250 --> 01:22.361 that , General , please . Thank you . 01:22.361 --> 01:24.472 Thanks , Mr Kirby . And thanks to all 01:24.472 --> 01:26.417 of you for the opportunity to talk 01:26.417 --> 01:28.361 about where we are and where we're 01:28.361 --> 01:30.528 headed in the coming weeks , in regard 01:30.528 --> 01:32.694 to our covid vaccine efforts . First , 01:32.694 --> 01:34.694 some data points on our vaccination 01:34.694 --> 01:36.806 program . Four months ago , almost to 01:36.806 --> 01:40.180 the day I sat , I stood at a podium 01:40.180 --> 01:42.347 right over there and told you that our 01:42.347 --> 01:44.236 vaccination program was one of 64 01:44.236 --> 01:46.513 jurisdictions across the United States . 01:46.513 --> 01:48.458 I also said that we'd be receiving 01:48.458 --> 01:51.610 about 1.3% of the total US doses and 01:51.610 --> 01:53.610 that we would begin vaccination the 01:53.610 --> 01:57.300 following week with a few 1000 doses of 01:57.300 --> 01:59.189 vaccines . Over the course of the 01:59.189 --> 02:01.411 holidays , the duty quickly validated a 02:01.411 --> 02:03.522 pilot program and began the expansion 02:03.522 --> 02:05.870 process to our current 350 vaccination 02:05.870 --> 02:08.540 locations . It took us 70 days to 02:08.540 --> 02:10.651 administer the first million vaccines 02:10.840 --> 02:13.590 35 days for the next million , and with 02:13.590 --> 02:15.757 more than a quarter of a million doses 02:15.757 --> 02:17.868 administered in the last eight days , 02:17.868 --> 02:20.090 we're on track for the next million and 02:20.090 --> 02:22.730 somewhere between 25 30 days . Further 02:22.730 --> 02:24.619 department recognizes the limited 02:24.619 --> 02:26.841 options of our kokonas beneficiaries to 02:26.841 --> 02:29.040 receive the vaccine and one of our 02:29.170 --> 02:31.281 military medical treatment facilities 02:31.420 --> 02:33.198 in order to support our Kokonas 02:33.198 --> 02:35.420 beneficiaries . We made the decision to 02:35.420 --> 02:38.410 distribute 14% of the doses re received 02:38.470 --> 02:40.660 two KOKONAS locations . That's 02:40.660 --> 02:43.010 significant because the kokonas 02:43.010 --> 02:46.470 population is 7% of our eligible 02:46.470 --> 02:49.020 population . That said , if you're a 02:49.020 --> 02:51.190 service member , station overseas or a 02:51.190 --> 02:53.023 family member , likewise station 02:53.023 --> 02:55.134 overseas and you haven't received the 02:55.134 --> 02:57.301 vaccine and you don't know when you'll 02:57.301 --> 02:59.634 be able to . These numbers mean nothing , 02:59.634 --> 03:01.860 and it's understandably frustrating . 03:02.340 --> 03:04.451 The recent event that caused the loss 03:04.451 --> 03:06.284 of about 15 million doses of the 03:06.284 --> 03:08.451 Johnson and Johnson or Johnson vaccine 03:08.451 --> 03:10.618 has affected the D . O D allocations . 03:10.618 --> 03:12.451 As is true for all United States 03:12.451 --> 03:14.530 jurisdictions , we targeted the 03:14.530 --> 03:16.474 overseas community for R J and Jay 03:16.474 --> 03:18.419 Vaccine Supply , so we're actively 03:18.419 --> 03:20.474 exploring other means to offset this 03:20.474 --> 03:22.530 temporary shortage of the change , a 03:22.530 --> 03:24.308 product now consistent with the 03:24.308 --> 03:26.308 president's announcement on Tuesday 03:26.308 --> 03:28.197 that all jurisdictions will begin 03:28.197 --> 03:30.308 offering vaccines to all Americans by 03:30.308 --> 03:32.690 April 19th , the D . O . D will also be 03:32.690 --> 03:35.320 opening to all tears , beginning that 03:35.320 --> 03:38.250 day to any eligible person to make an 03:38.250 --> 03:40.840 appointment for vaccination . In fact , 03:41.040 --> 03:43.096 approximately 40% of our vaccination 03:43.096 --> 03:45.151 sites have already provided at least 03:45.151 --> 03:47.360 some vaccinations in this final tier , 03:47.740 --> 03:49.573 representing that segment of our 03:49.573 --> 03:51.740 population without health risk factors 03:51.740 --> 03:53.851 who are otherwise eligible to receive 03:53.851 --> 03:56.340 the vaccine . This step doesn't mean 03:56.350 --> 03:58.239 that the prioritized tears are no 03:58.239 --> 04:01.060 longer being used . If individuals in 04:01.060 --> 04:02.870 our initial tears now want an 04:02.870 --> 04:05.830 immunization , they still get to the 04:05.830 --> 04:08.230 front of the schedule . Our service 04:08.230 --> 04:10.550 members , families , retirees , diode 04:10.560 --> 04:12.990 civilians and contractors , along with 04:12.990 --> 04:14.990 their eligible family members , are 04:14.990 --> 04:17.323 understandably excited to be vaccinated . 04:17.323 --> 04:19.546 And we're equally pleased to be opening 04:19.546 --> 04:21.546 up availability to everyone . We're 04:21.546 --> 04:23.768 administering the vaccine as fast as we 04:23.768 --> 04:25.990 receive it . The good news is this week 04:25.990 --> 04:28.101 we're distributing significantly more 04:28.101 --> 04:30.323 Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to our sites 04:30.323 --> 04:32.434 than in previous weeks . Our hospital 04:32.434 --> 04:31.890 clinic commanders have prepared for 04:31.890 --> 04:33.890 this moment and are expanding their 04:33.890 --> 04:36.112 local operations , depending upon local 04:36.112 --> 04:38.168 missions . Some sites will even have 04:38.168 --> 04:40.390 seven day a week operations in order to 04:40.390 --> 04:42.612 make it easier for our beneficiaries to 04:42.612 --> 04:44.501 get vaccinated . Based on current 04:44.501 --> 04:47.000 projections of supply of medical 04:47.000 --> 04:48.722 personnel available to perform 04:48.722 --> 04:50.833 vaccinations and the current interest 04:50.833 --> 04:53.167 of individuals wishing to be vaccinated , 04:53.167 --> 04:55.350 we expect that we will be able to 04:55.350 --> 04:57.400 deliver at least an initial dose to 04:57.410 --> 05:00.940 every eligible Kokonas person who wants 05:00.940 --> 05:03.950 one by the middle of May , the safety 05:03.950 --> 05:06.172 and efficacy of the vaccine is approved 05:06.172 --> 05:08.394 for use under grow more impressive with 05:08.394 --> 05:10.228 each passing week . The military 05:10.228 --> 05:12.339 beneficiary population is a microcosm 05:12.339 --> 05:14.450 of the American populations , and the 05:14.450 --> 05:14.180 trends that we see in the larger 05:14.180 --> 05:16.458 population are being mirrored in the D . 05:16.458 --> 05:18.680 O . D . Our people are paying attention 05:18.680 --> 05:20.791 and coming in for vaccination . We're 05:20.791 --> 05:22.958 thankful for those who have taken this 05:22.958 --> 05:24.902 step protecting themselves , their 05:24.902 --> 05:26.958 families , their teammates and those 05:26.958 --> 05:29.069 most vulnerable . Now , as I noted at 05:29.069 --> 05:31.291 the press conference two weeks ago , we 05:31.291 --> 05:31.120 continue to see many individuals who 05:31.120 --> 05:34.110 were taking a wait and see approach now 05:34.110 --> 05:36.780 coming in for the vaccine . I'm proud 05:36.780 --> 05:38.836 of the exceptional work our military 05:38.836 --> 05:40.724 medics are doing both on military 05:40.724 --> 05:42.502 installations and in support of 05:42.502 --> 05:44.391 vaccination efforts at FEMA sites 05:44.391 --> 05:46.613 around the country . Thanks to progress 05:46.613 --> 05:48.502 in administering these vaccines , 05:48.502 --> 05:50.724 combined with our ongoing public health 05:50.724 --> 05:52.947 measures and laboratory testing , we're 05:52.947 --> 05:52.750 turning the corner in our country and 05:52.750 --> 05:54.806 in the d o d . Thanks for being here 05:54.806 --> 05:56.972 today , and along with my colleagues , 05:56.972 --> 05:58.917 I look forward to your questions . 06:00.040 --> 06:02.860 General affairs . Thank you , Mr Kirby . 06:03.340 --> 06:06.010 Good morning , everyone . I really 06:06.010 --> 06:07.843 thank you for the opportunity to 06:07.843 --> 06:09.899 discuss our Army's efforts to combat 06:09.899 --> 06:12.500 COVID 19 and the administration of the 06:12.500 --> 06:15.150 vaccines . The Army understands the 06:15.150 --> 06:17.320 situation that our families overseas 06:17.320 --> 06:19.542 are in because of the limited access to 06:19.542 --> 06:22.630 vaccines . We have shipped more vaccine 06:22.640 --> 06:25.490 in proportion to stateside locations to 06:25.490 --> 06:27.546 try to address those challenges with 06:27.546 --> 06:30.710 access to the vaccines . Moderna has 06:30.710 --> 06:32.932 been the primary vaccine ship to Europe 06:32.932 --> 06:35.043 because of the difficulty of shipping 06:35.043 --> 06:37.190 Pfizer vaccine overseas due to the 06:37.190 --> 06:40.060 ultra cold storage requirements . As 06:40.060 --> 06:42.000 the supply of Johnson and Johnson 06:42.000 --> 06:43.833 single dose vaccine becomes more 06:43.833 --> 06:45.889 readily available , the U . S Army , 06:45.889 --> 06:47.830 Europe and Africa will receive an 06:47.830 --> 06:50.540 additional distribution a vaccine to 06:50.540 --> 06:52.596 soldiers who are in remote locations 06:52.596 --> 06:55.370 around Europe where we don't have Army 06:55.370 --> 06:57.460 medical treatment facilities as 06:57.460 --> 06:59.682 lieutenant general . Places just stated 06:59.682 --> 07:01.682 there are expected increases in the 07:01.682 --> 07:03.890 supply in the coming weeks , and army 07:03.890 --> 07:05.557 medicine will ensure that all 07:05.557 --> 07:07.612 individuals will be eligible for the 07:07.612 --> 07:10.520 vaccination . We have roughly 12,000 07:10.520 --> 07:12.770 allocations arriving this week and 07:12.770 --> 07:14.881 should have a similar number , if not 07:14.881 --> 07:17.048 increase is arriving in the subsequent 07:17.048 --> 07:19.159 weeks . We are working in corporation 07:19.159 --> 07:21.048 with the Department of Defense to 07:21.048 --> 07:23.214 support the presidential initiative to 07:23.214 --> 07:25.450 get America vaccinated against Covid 19 07:26.020 --> 07:28.187 the Johnson and Johnson vaccine should 07:28.187 --> 07:30.020 allow us to increase the flow of 07:30.020 --> 07:31.964 vaccines to our soldiers and their 07:31.964 --> 07:34.187 families outside of the United States . 07:34.187 --> 07:36.298 As of this week , U . S Army , Europe 07:36.298 --> 07:38.353 and Africa has administered at least 07:38.353 --> 07:41.350 37,000 covid 19 vaccine doses 07:41.740 --> 07:45.020 and to 17,000 to fully vaccinated 07:45.030 --> 07:47.110 members in Europe . The number of 07:47.120 --> 07:49.287 active duty soldiers in Europe is more 07:49.287 --> 07:51.380 than 50,000 , and there are roughly 07:51.380 --> 07:54.710 150,000 eligible people in the Army 07:54.710 --> 07:56.932 military community in Europe . And that 07:56.932 --> 07:58.821 would include active duty , their 07:58.821 --> 08:00.432 family members , civilians , 08:00.432 --> 08:02.654 contractors and they're eligible family 08:02.654 --> 08:04.710 members . Based upon the projections 08:04.710 --> 08:06.599 that Lieutenant General Place has 08:06.599 --> 08:08.766 shared with you , we should be able to 08:08.766 --> 08:10.266 vaccinate at least 100,000 08:10.266 --> 08:12.266 beneficiaries in the coming weeks . 08:12.266 --> 08:14.432 Army medicine is committed to ensuring 08:14.432 --> 08:16.654 when the vaccine is available , we will 08:16.654 --> 08:18.830 be ready to administer . To all are 08:18.840 --> 08:21.060 eligible Army family members . Thank 08:21.060 --> 08:22.450 you , Emma . 08:27.940 --> 08:29.940 Thank you , Admiral Kirby , for the 08:29.940 --> 08:32.930 opportunity to be here today protecting 08:32.940 --> 08:35.250 our sailors . Marines are civilian 08:35.250 --> 08:37.740 employees or contractors . Our families 08:37.750 --> 08:40.350 in the Department of the Navy is our 08:40.350 --> 08:43.650 North Star . Having served 08:43.660 --> 08:47.370 overseas myself for almost a third of 08:47.370 --> 08:49.610 my career . You know , I certainly 08:49.610 --> 08:51.666 understand the fact that when you're 08:51.666 --> 08:54.100 serving overseas , you rely solely on 08:54.100 --> 08:56.211 the local military treatment facility 08:56.211 --> 09:00.180 for that care and the With that in 09:00.180 --> 09:03.010 mind , the Department of the Navy 09:03.060 --> 09:05.060 leadership recognized this from the 09:05.060 --> 09:08.150 very beginning and therefore focused 09:08.150 --> 09:09.983 additional vaccine to all of our 09:09.983 --> 09:12.580 overseas locations in accordance with 09:12.580 --> 09:15.760 the D . O . D s vaccine prioritization 09:15.760 --> 09:18.950 scheme up for our European locations . 09:18.960 --> 09:21.530 Over 50% of the Department of the 09:21.530 --> 09:23.890 Navy's population , which includes 09:23.890 --> 09:26.360 family members . It also includes 09:26.360 --> 09:28.850 civilians , contractors and those from 09:28.850 --> 09:30.970 the host nation who are eligible to 09:30.970 --> 09:34.030 receive it . They have all received . 09:34.030 --> 09:36.820 At least we have 50% of those 09:36.820 --> 09:38.987 individuals who have received at least 09:38.987 --> 09:41.660 one dose of the vaccine . And we also 09:41.660 --> 09:45.040 have more vaccine operations occurring 09:45.040 --> 09:48.550 daily to make things a little easier 09:48.550 --> 09:51.050 for our sailors , our families , our 09:51.050 --> 09:53.820 marines , those who are going overseas . 09:53.830 --> 09:56.760 The Navy released a Navy administration 09:56.770 --> 10:00.070 administrative message last week which 10:00.070 --> 10:02.126 prioritize service members and their 10:02.126 --> 10:05.080 families moving overseas for the Covid 10:05.090 --> 10:08.820 19 vaccine prior to transfer . So if 10:08.820 --> 10:10.987 they need an overseas screening , they 10:10.987 --> 10:12.990 come into the military treatment 10:12.990 --> 10:15.720 facility . We can certainly give them 10:15.720 --> 10:18.010 the vaccine prior to going overseas . 10:18.010 --> 10:21.490 Our goal would be to have as many fully 10:21.490 --> 10:24.250 immunized prior to transfer . 10:25.640 --> 10:27.584 And then , just lastly , I want to 10:27.584 --> 10:29.473 quickly thank all of our Navy and 10:29.473 --> 10:31.251 Marine Corps personnel that are 10:31.251 --> 10:33.362 currently serving at FEMA vaccination 10:33.362 --> 10:35.418 centers across the country . We have 10:35.418 --> 10:37.529 over 1000 personnel out there working 10:37.529 --> 10:39.696 with the whole of government . Provide 10:39.696 --> 10:41.807 them , so far have provided more than 10:41.807 --> 10:43.751 500,000 vaccines in support of our 10:43.751 --> 10:45.862 state and federal partners . So we're 10:45.862 --> 10:48.310 glad to be a part of that effort . And 10:48.320 --> 10:50.653 that's all I have right now . Thank you . 10:50.653 --> 10:52.900 Thank you , General Tillerson . Good 10:52.900 --> 10:54.900 morning . The Department of the Air 10:54.900 --> 10:56.956 Force appreciates the opportunity to 10:56.956 --> 10:59.011 address your questions Regarding the 10:59.011 --> 11:01.580 Covid 19 vaccination process as a seven 11:01.580 --> 11:03.580 April , the Air Force has delivered 11:03.580 --> 11:07.520 499,683 vaccines to 11:07.520 --> 11:10.950 over 125 sites worldwide , and we 11:10.950 --> 11:14.560 vaccinated . 444,083 individuals 11:14.570 --> 11:16.730 are kokonas commands . The United 11:16.730 --> 11:18.620 States Air Force is Europe or use 11:18.620 --> 11:21.090 safety and United States Pacific Air 11:21.090 --> 11:23.820 Forces Pakaya have been prioritized for 11:23.820 --> 11:25.764 vaccine distribution over the past 11:25.764 --> 11:27.931 three weeks , resulting in the highest 11:27.931 --> 11:29.820 percentage of personnel receiving 11:29.820 --> 11:31.620 vaccine compared to other major 11:31.620 --> 11:33.900 commands . In fact , as a four April 11:33.900 --> 11:37.530 2021 of the 53,000 eligible D O . D 11:37.530 --> 11:39.752 personnel in new safety , approximately 11:39.752 --> 11:42.070 35% of those individuals have received 11:42.070 --> 11:44.920 at least one vaccine dose and 22% have 11:44.920 --> 11:48.010 been fully vaccinated of 109,000 11:48.010 --> 11:50.350 eligible D o D personnel and Pack AAF . 11:50.470 --> 11:53.060 Approximately 26% of these individuals 11:53.070 --> 11:55.292 have received at least one vaccine dose 11:55.292 --> 11:58.200 and 20% have been fully vaccinated . As 11:58.200 --> 12:00.311 we immunise individuals in accordance 12:00.311 --> 12:02.478 with the D . O . D population schema , 12:02.478 --> 12:04.950 we are ensuring timely vaccinations of 12:04.950 --> 12:07.080 personnel were critical to executing 12:07.080 --> 12:09.136 the mission to include frontline and 12:09.136 --> 12:11.302 essential workers and those with known 12:11.302 --> 12:13.358 health risks , which includes family 12:13.358 --> 12:15.700 members . Understanding that updates 12:15.700 --> 12:18.250 opportunities for covid 19 vaccinations 12:18.260 --> 12:21.160 do not exist for overseas duty eligible 12:21.160 --> 12:23.630 personnel . Kokonas locations will 12:23.630 --> 12:25.890 continue to be a focus for vaccine 12:25.890 --> 12:28.160 distribution . I'm happy to report 12:28.170 --> 12:30.490 Moderna shipments for Oksana sites have 12:30.490 --> 12:32.657 been increasing . For example , in new 12:32.657 --> 12:35.910 safety , we've increased from 66,500 12:35.910 --> 12:39.410 doses in February 2 , 7700 doses in 12:39.410 --> 12:42.350 March and are now up to 11,000 doses in 12:42.350 --> 12:45.230 April . In addition , Johnson and 12:45.230 --> 12:47.230 Johnson vaccine will continue to be 12:47.230 --> 12:49.450 prioritized for Oksana's . Finally , 12:49.450 --> 12:52.000 we're also working plans to ship Visor 12:52.000 --> 12:54.960 vaccine KOKONAS to vaccinate 16 to 17 12:54.960 --> 12:57.250 year olds . Given the age requirements 12:57.250 --> 13:00.010 of other vaccines , the readiness of 13:00.010 --> 13:02.670 our force , including our Air and Space 13:02.670 --> 13:04.614 Force families , is our number one 13:04.614 --> 13:06.781 priority and will continue to advocate 13:06.781 --> 13:09.890 for increased Oksana's allocations of 13:09.890 --> 13:12.540 vaccine as nationwide supplies increase . 13:12.700 --> 13:14.980 Thank you . Thank you , General . Okay , 13:14.980 --> 13:18.120 we'll take some questions . Megan . So , 13:18.130 --> 13:20.610 overall , what's the total of service 13:20.610 --> 13:22.443 members ? Oksana's who have been 13:22.443 --> 13:24.610 vaccinated either gotten a dose or 13:24.610 --> 13:25.721 gotten both doses ? 13:29.140 --> 13:32.360 Yeah , that's a great question . So I'm 13:32.360 --> 13:34.150 not I'm not prepared to answer 13:34.150 --> 13:36.700 specifically to the total Kokonas 13:36.700 --> 13:39.000 versus kokonas . Uh , and what that 13:39.000 --> 13:41.570 might look like each of the different 13:41.580 --> 13:44.100 geographical combat commands are are a 13:44.100 --> 13:47.320 little bit different . The service 13:47.320 --> 13:50.110 members at each of those locations and 13:50.110 --> 13:52.332 the commands can talk about it . But in 13:52.332 --> 13:56.250 general , the kokonas uniform personnel 13:56.250 --> 13:59.870 are vaccinated at somewhere between I 13:59.870 --> 14:01.980 don't know , 10 or 15% higher rates 14:01.980 --> 14:04.091 than the continental United States at 14:04.091 --> 14:06.258 this point . But remember that fits to 14:06.258 --> 14:08.202 the schema that we've talked about 14:08.202 --> 14:10.480 before . Deployed forces , for example , 14:10.480 --> 14:12.702 in particular , those that are actively 14:12.702 --> 14:12.100 employed . Admissions in this income 14:12.100 --> 14:14.100 area of operations or any of the CO 14:14.100 --> 14:16.380 comes . But it is significantly higher 14:16.390 --> 14:18.612 in Kokonas locations than it is here in 14:18.612 --> 14:22.440 the United States . Okay . Oren 14:22.440 --> 14:24.440 Liebermann , CNN . Yeah . 14:26.440 --> 14:28.440 Hey , thanks for doing this . I was 14:28.440 --> 14:30.384 just wondering about where Kokonas 14:30.384 --> 14:32.384 stands in relation to cope with the 14:32.384 --> 14:34.496 tearing system . Because , as I think 14:34.496 --> 14:36.718 you've mentioned , uh , Cone is has has 14:36.718 --> 14:38.884 moved through one alpha and Bravo when 14:38.884 --> 14:41.051 Charlie even , perhaps , and some have 14:41.051 --> 14:43.107 started tiered to If if I understood 14:43.107 --> 14:45.170 you correctly is spoken in the same 14:45.170 --> 14:47.170 position , are they still behind in 14:47.170 --> 14:49.337 terms of one out for one Bravo . Could 14:49.337 --> 14:52.190 you compare those two ? So in general , 14:52.190 --> 14:54.301 there are more kokonas locations that 14:54.301 --> 14:56.412 have migrated into Tier two than Kona 14:56.412 --> 14:59.120 Space locations . That said , there are 14:59.120 --> 15:01.120 some cones locations that have also 15:01.120 --> 15:03.030 migrated into tier two again . It 15:03.030 --> 15:05.197 depends on the mission said , and also 15:05.197 --> 15:07.720 depends on on the acceptance rate or 15:07.720 --> 15:10.030 the ability of those in tier one brow 15:10.030 --> 15:12.197 or specifically Tier one Charlie to be 15:12.197 --> 15:14.197 available to be vaccinated on a day 15:14.197 --> 15:16.600 that the particular vaccination site is 15:16.600 --> 15:18.544 offering them . Remember voluntary 15:18.544 --> 15:21.570 vaccine . So each of these local clinic 15:21.570 --> 15:23.292 commanders or vaccination site 15:23.292 --> 15:25.348 commanders are doing everything they 15:25.348 --> 15:27.600 can to use every single moment of every 15:27.600 --> 15:29.544 single vaccination minute to get a 15:29.544 --> 15:31.656 vaccination into somebody's arm . And 15:31.656 --> 15:33.433 so if the mission that requires 15:33.433 --> 15:35.600 everybody who's who would otherwise in 15:35.600 --> 15:37.656 the scheme would be eligible today , 15:37.656 --> 15:37.210 they're not available . Today . They're 15:37.210 --> 15:39.266 going to vaccinate somebody else and 15:39.266 --> 15:41.377 then go back and offer again to those 15:41.377 --> 15:43.543 in Tier one Bravo or tear when Charlie 15:43.543 --> 15:45.710 etcetera . So it's mission dependent . 15:45.710 --> 15:47.821 But , uh , kokonas and colonists have 15:47.821 --> 15:51.530 moved into Tier two . If I may 15:51.540 --> 15:53.651 answer from an Army perspective , are 15:53.651 --> 15:56.960 acting secretary of the Army , has , um 15:56.970 --> 15:59.880 asked the army to go shoulder to 15:59.880 --> 16:02.047 shoulder on our tears . So let me give 16:02.047 --> 16:03.936 you an example . So let's say one 16:03.936 --> 16:06.540 location is getting a has moved through 16:06.540 --> 16:08.651 an area of the tear in the schema and 16:08.651 --> 16:10.707 moving on to the next . We will slow 16:10.707 --> 16:12.651 down distribution to that location 16:12.651 --> 16:15.150 because we want to get the entire army 16:15.150 --> 16:17.520 as close to being online as possible . 16:17.530 --> 16:20.810 Um , with the tears . And so that's a 16:20.810 --> 16:23.410 technique that the army is employing as 16:23.410 --> 16:25.320 we get after the schemas . 16:27.440 --> 16:29.607 Thank you uh , Audrey's from Reuters . 16:30.640 --> 16:33.870 Thanks , John . Two questions . Firstly , 16:33.870 --> 16:35.926 for each of the services , could you 16:35.926 --> 16:38.037 give us a percentage of how much your 16:38.037 --> 16:40.510 service has been vaccinated ? And 16:40.510 --> 16:43.340 secondly , do you believe there will be 16:43.340 --> 16:46.680 a time when you , you know or publicly 16:46.690 --> 16:48.912 be able to say how many service members 16:48.912 --> 16:51.190 turned down the emergency use vaccines ? 16:51.190 --> 16:53.357 Is that something that you don't think 16:53.357 --> 16:55.468 will be tracked or made public in the 16:55.468 --> 16:58.150 future ? Mhm . 16:59.940 --> 17:01.996 Thank you for the question . From an 17:01.996 --> 17:05.200 army's perspective , we administer of 17:05.200 --> 17:07.970 the vaccine it centrally managed and 17:07.970 --> 17:10.670 allocated to the various locations . We 17:10.670 --> 17:12.940 have over 80 locations globally in the 17:12.940 --> 17:15.560 Army that we make distribution too . Of 17:15.560 --> 17:17.750 the vaccines that we have been given , 17:17.760 --> 17:20.990 um , we have administered every week . 17:21.000 --> 17:23.660 On average , about 94% of what gets 17:23.660 --> 17:26.050 shipped to us gets into the arms . And 17:26.050 --> 17:29.370 currently , as of yesterday , we have 17:29.380 --> 17:32.380 over 688,000 17:32.390 --> 17:34.870 vaccines that have been administered . 17:34.880 --> 17:37.720 Now , some of those are our first dose 17:37.720 --> 17:40.340 and second dose , but fully vaccinated , 17:40.350 --> 17:44.120 uh , people with second dose of the 17:44.120 --> 17:46.660 vaccine . Given we have about 67% of 17:46.660 --> 17:48.940 those individuals , we do not keep 17:48.940 --> 17:51.350 track of declination is those are 17:51.350 --> 17:53.461 people that have have the opportunity 17:53.461 --> 17:55.683 to sit down with the medical provider , 17:55.683 --> 17:57.461 asked their questions about the 17:57.461 --> 17:59.294 emergency use vaccine and make a 17:59.294 --> 18:01.780 determination about whether or not they 18:01.790 --> 18:04.012 choose to take the immunization at that 18:04.012 --> 18:06.068 time . But what we have learned over 18:06.068 --> 18:08.300 time is as the vaccines have been 18:08.300 --> 18:10.244 around as people have been getting 18:10.244 --> 18:12.250 vaccinated , we are having seen an 18:12.260 --> 18:14.790 increase of the take of the vaccine , 18:14.790 --> 18:17.330 and we have people from previous tears 18:17.330 --> 18:19.552 in the schema that have come forward to 18:19.552 --> 18:21.719 get vaccinations . And we believe that 18:21.719 --> 18:23.580 that's due in large part to the 18:23.600 --> 18:25.767 education and the materials we put out 18:25.767 --> 18:28.190 in the information that are , 18:28.200 --> 18:30.450 clinicians are able to push out via 18:30.450 --> 18:33.240 social media , getting information in 18:33.240 --> 18:35.310 town halls and pushing it to the 18:35.310 --> 18:37.199 commanders for questions that our 18:37.199 --> 18:40.970 service members have . Thank you . So 18:40.970 --> 18:43.940 from a Navy Perspective Department of 18:43.940 --> 18:46.990 Navy perspective , I think we have 18:46.990 --> 18:50.980 roughly 35% last I checked of the 18:50.980 --> 18:52.980 active force that's been vaccinated 18:53.340 --> 18:55.160 greater and we've delivered 18:55.160 --> 18:58.670 administered over 650,000 doses , 18:59.040 --> 19:01.630 Uh , and recognizing that we're also 19:01.640 --> 19:03.990 trying to balance not only getting the 19:03.990 --> 19:06.770 active force vaccinated , but also 19:06.780 --> 19:08.891 following the scheme of ensuring that 19:08.891 --> 19:12.100 those who are 65 older 19:12.920 --> 19:15.500 have an opportunity to go into an M T F 19:15.500 --> 19:18.760 and receive a vaccine along with , 19:19.140 --> 19:21.070 um , those who may be medically 19:21.070 --> 19:23.292 compromised . So it's a balancing act , 19:23.292 --> 19:25.348 but we're certainly trying to do the 19:25.348 --> 19:27.550 best we can to distribute this , um , 19:27.560 --> 19:30.450 as efficiently and equitably as 19:30.450 --> 19:34.400 possible in the Air 19:34.400 --> 19:37.450 Force , I can tell you as a five April 19:37.450 --> 19:41.420 for a dose one , we have vaccinated 19:41.430 --> 19:44.810 11.1% and dose two 19:44.820 --> 19:48.580 is 7.2% . As as I mentioned , we do 19:48.580 --> 19:50.913 track these by different major commands . 19:50.913 --> 19:53.247 And that's why the percentages I shared , 19:53.247 --> 19:55.950 uh , for example , with you safety 35% 19:56.340 --> 20:00.120 uh , for one dose in 22% . That's kind 20:00.120 --> 20:03.850 of an in comparison , Uh , regarding 20:03.850 --> 20:06.140 declination is that that is something 20:06.140 --> 20:08.362 that is always a little bit challenging 20:08.362 --> 20:10.251 the track . But there has been an 20:10.251 --> 20:12.529 overall trend seeing in a positive way , 20:12.529 --> 20:14.584 with more people accepting vaccine , 20:14.584 --> 20:17.070 and it does appear to be that the 20:17.070 --> 20:20.490 educational efforts are working and we 20:20.490 --> 20:22.490 feel strongly that once someone has 20:22.490 --> 20:24.657 been notified , appreciating that that 20:24.657 --> 20:27.120 is an individual choice , that it's so 20:27.120 --> 20:29.720 important that they understand , Uh , 20:29.730 --> 20:31.841 what the vaccine is all about and and 20:31.841 --> 20:34.270 the potential benefit and the risk . Uh , 20:34.270 --> 20:36.326 and And the only other thing I would 20:36.326 --> 20:38.810 mention is very happy to report . You 20:38.810 --> 20:41.032 know , as far as once we get vaccine in 20:41.032 --> 20:43.088 the Air Force were getting shots and 20:43.088 --> 20:43.010 arms , and the execution rate has 20:43.010 --> 20:45.320 generally been well above 90% . So that 20:45.320 --> 20:47.487 will continue to be the focus . Moving 20:47.487 --> 20:50.580 forward . Thank you . Thank you . Uh , 20:50.590 --> 20:52.260 Abraham Washington Examiner . 20:56.540 --> 20:59.060 Can you hear me ? Can you hear me ? 21:00.140 --> 21:02.140 Yeah . Terrific . Thank you . So my 21:02.140 --> 21:04.780 question is about so I understand the 21:04.780 --> 21:07.430 Jensen vaccines spoilage caused a 21:07.440 --> 21:10.160 problem , but you were also ahead 10 to 21:10.160 --> 21:13.770 15% in vaccine vaccination rates . So 21:13.780 --> 21:16.070 can you Can you talk about how that 21:16.070 --> 21:18.237 compares with colonists vaccinations ? 21:18.237 --> 21:21.260 And are you trying to catch up with 21:21.270 --> 21:23.950 Jensen , or are you trying to channel 21:23.950 --> 21:26.250 some of the other vaccines into a 21:26.250 --> 21:28.472 kokonas in order to catch up ? And then 21:28.472 --> 21:30.830 we're , uh I apologize because I had 21:30.830 --> 21:32.510 some bad audio . We are . Do 21:32.510 --> 21:35.780 beneficiaries stand in in in in their 21:35.780 --> 21:37.860 vaccination rates . Thanks so much . 21:38.240 --> 21:40.910 Sure . Thank you . So yes . The as , 21:40.920 --> 21:44.240 uh , John Miller mentioned before 21:44.240 --> 21:47.360 There's some challenges with the Pfizer 21:47.360 --> 21:49.800 vaccine , and it's truly ultra cold 21:49.800 --> 21:51.540 storage requirements and the 21:51.540 --> 21:53.707 requirement for us to have an American 21:53.707 --> 21:55.360 emergency use application or 21:55.820 --> 21:58.280 certification on every vile that we use 21:58.280 --> 22:00.447 getting the Pfizer vaccine overseas as 22:00.447 --> 22:03.250 a challenge for us . So we are making 22:03.250 --> 22:06.330 up that the Delta the difference 22:06.330 --> 22:08.441 between what we thought we were going 22:08.441 --> 22:10.660 to get with the Johnson and Johnson or 22:10.660 --> 22:13.400 Johnson vaccine with Moderna , while 22:13.400 --> 22:16.520 still not overly deck , repenting any 22:16.520 --> 22:18.742 other area of Operation Geographic area 22:18.742 --> 22:20.860 of operations . But that will be the 22:21.440 --> 22:23.770 the large majority of how we make it up 22:23.780 --> 22:25.920 from the family member . The 22:25.920 --> 22:28.142 beneficiary population would be careful 22:28.142 --> 22:30.420 about different , different categories . 22:30.420 --> 22:32.350 So other beneficiaries family 22:32.360 --> 22:34.800 beneficiaries can be retirees and some 22:34.800 --> 22:37.330 of those retirees over 65/75 . And 22:37.340 --> 22:39.562 according to our schema , that puts the 22:39.562 --> 22:42.490 over 75 1 bravo so all of them have 22:42.490 --> 22:44.712 been approached one way or another with 22:44.712 --> 22:46.823 the opportunity to be vaccinated . On 22:46.823 --> 22:49.157 the other hand , if you're you're young , 22:49.157 --> 22:51.323 otherwise healthy family member , that 22:51.323 --> 22:53.379 makes you in Tier two , and so those 22:53.379 --> 22:55.379 locations have gotten to Tier two , 22:55.379 --> 22:57.434 they would have been notified of the 22:57.434 --> 22:57.380 potential for them to make an 22:57.380 --> 22:59.602 appointment to be vaccinated . But as I 22:59.602 --> 23:01.820 mentioned , if 40% of our operations 23:01.820 --> 23:03.931 have at least touched into Tier two , 23:03.931 --> 23:06.042 that means fully 60% of our locations 23:06.042 --> 23:08.153 have not . Which means family members 23:08.153 --> 23:10.520 that over 60% of our locations have not 23:10.530 --> 23:12.586 yet been notified of their potential 23:12.586 --> 23:14.641 eligibility to be vaccinated at this 23:14.641 --> 23:16.752 point , if you recall from my initial 23:16.752 --> 23:18.752 comments , however , by the 19th of 23:18.752 --> 23:20.590 April we anticipate opening up 23:20.590 --> 23:22.757 eligibility to make an appointment for 23:22.757 --> 23:24.979 vaccination at every location , meaning 23:24.979 --> 23:27.330 100% of locations would then be open to 23:27.330 --> 23:29.052 potential appointments for all 23:29.052 --> 23:31.108 beneficiaries to include our young , 23:31.108 --> 23:33.163 healthy , active duty family members 23:33.163 --> 23:35.219 who are in our final scheme . I hope 23:35.219 --> 23:39.040 that answers the question over . Okay , 23:39.040 --> 23:41.300 next from Patricia came military dot 23:41.300 --> 23:44.880 com . Um , yeah , thanks 23:44.880 --> 23:47.470 for Thanks for taking my question . Um , 23:47.480 --> 23:51.310 so there's reopenings going on across 23:51.320 --> 23:54.330 across the services in terms of like , 23:54.340 --> 23:57.710 um , uh , mess halls and gyms to 23:57.710 --> 24:00.410 vaccinated people . Um , and I'm 24:00.410 --> 24:02.521 wondering , you know , like they have 24:02.521 --> 24:04.743 to show their vaccine cards to get in . 24:04.743 --> 24:06.966 I'm wondering if you could comment sort 24:06.966 --> 24:08.854 of on , given that the vaccine is 24:08.854 --> 24:10.854 voluntary . Um , you know , is this 24:10.854 --> 24:12.854 sort of the equivalent of a vaccine 24:12.854 --> 24:16.780 passport ? And can you I'm the , 24:16.790 --> 24:20.030 uh , this way of 24:20.030 --> 24:23.670 reopening . Thank you for the question . 24:23.680 --> 24:26.960 General Ferris . For the Army . So 24:27.440 --> 24:30.800 local commanders , uh , make 24:30.800 --> 24:33.770 determinations on how they want to open 24:33.780 --> 24:36.590 up their installations at each 24:36.600 --> 24:38.740 installation . We have health force 24:38.740 --> 24:42.160 protection levels . It's managed by 24:42.170 --> 24:44.590 what we see prevalent in the 24:44.590 --> 24:46.701 environment around where installation 24:46.701 --> 24:48.312 is at what we've seen on the 24:48.312 --> 24:50.423 installation for covid positive . How 24:50.423 --> 24:52.534 many people have been vaccinated . So 24:52.534 --> 24:54.479 the determination and a prescribed 24:54.479 --> 24:57.530 location is done wholeheartedly by that 24:57.530 --> 24:59.752 senior mission commander and the senior 24:59.752 --> 25:01.720 mission commander , through the 25:01.720 --> 25:03.940 advisement of their public health 25:03.950 --> 25:06.350 officer as well , as well as medical 25:06.350 --> 25:08.406 officers will make the determination 25:08.406 --> 25:10.017 about what it is . They feel 25:10.017 --> 25:12.680 comfortable from a medically informed 25:12.680 --> 25:15.200 decision to begin opening up 25:15.210 --> 25:17.154 installation . So I couldn't speak 25:17.154 --> 25:19.266 specifically to each location because 25:19.266 --> 25:21.377 that is a senior mission . Commanders 25:21.377 --> 25:25.320 prerogative . It came 25:25.330 --> 25:28.520 from a Navy perspective . That's what 25:28.520 --> 25:30.631 general Affairs just mentioned . That 25:30.631 --> 25:32.853 that applies to a Navy and Marine Corps 25:32.853 --> 25:36.760 installations as well And and same 25:36.760 --> 25:38.816 for the air Force . I think you know 25:38.816 --> 25:41.038 you will see that it's a very collegial 25:41.038 --> 25:42.927 approach . I mean , the teams are 25:42.927 --> 25:45.038 working very closely of the D h A and 25:45.038 --> 25:47.149 all the services , so that in general 25:47.149 --> 25:49.316 we have a fairly consistent response . 25:49.316 --> 25:51.482 We're all very attuned to what the CDC 25:51.482 --> 25:53.482 is recommending and and making sure 25:53.482 --> 25:55.427 that our beneficiaries , it really 25:55.427 --> 25:57.593 shouldn't matter . You know where they 25:57.593 --> 25:59.760 are assigned the ideally , it's a very 25:59.760 --> 26:01.704 similar response , especially in a 26:01.704 --> 26:03.871 joint base setting . Mhm . Thank you , 26:03.871 --> 26:05.982 sir . Okay . Our final question today 26:05.982 --> 26:08.204 comes from Carol Rosenberg from the New 26:08.204 --> 26:10.371 York Times . Carol , do we have you on 26:10.371 --> 26:13.800 audio ? Actually , do you hear me 26:13.800 --> 26:17.050 now ? Mhm . Thanks , Admiral . 26:17.060 --> 26:20.030 Recognizing that you cannot currently 26:20.030 --> 26:22.610 compel vaccination . Is there a 26:22.610 --> 26:24.880 discussion of not deploying people who 26:24.890 --> 26:26.279 don't take the vaccine ? 26:30.540 --> 26:33.580 Um , uh , general affairs from the army . 26:33.590 --> 26:36.310 So currently , it is a voluntary 26:36.320 --> 26:39.350 vaccination . However , prior to deploy , 26:39.350 --> 26:41.540 we provide the opportunity for all 26:41.540 --> 26:43.890 individuals to have access to be able 26:43.890 --> 26:47.210 to be vaccinated . Um , it is not a 26:47.210 --> 26:49.460 mandatory requirement for readiness . 26:49.460 --> 26:51.790 And so we will have soldiers that will 26:51.790 --> 26:53.901 make the determination whether or not 26:53.901 --> 26:55.734 they choose to get the voluntary 26:55.734 --> 26:58.068 vaccine at this time . So yes . In fact , 26:58.068 --> 26:59.901 we would have potentially people 26:59.901 --> 27:03.610 deploying that are not vaccinated . And 27:03.610 --> 27:06.170 the same goes for a navy and Marine 27:06.170 --> 27:09.050 Corps . And , um , 27:10.340 --> 27:12.507 you know , what we would do is if were 27:12.507 --> 27:14.618 deployed on board a ship . You know , 27:14.618 --> 27:16.562 we still continue to do all of the 27:16.562 --> 27:18.729 public health measures that we've been 27:18.729 --> 27:21.062 doing for the last year , wearing masks , 27:21.062 --> 27:23.340 socially distancing that type of thing . 27:23.340 --> 27:25.173 So , uh , they still would go on 27:25.173 --> 27:27.118 deployment . And a very consistent 27:27.118 --> 27:29.118 response from the Department of Air 27:29.118 --> 27:32.120 Force also . Okay . Thank you . I think 27:32.120 --> 27:34.342 that's all the time we have for today . 27:34.342 --> 27:36.453 Appreciate you all coming . Thank you 27:36.453 --> 27:38.676 all very much for , uh , for doing this 27:38.676 --> 27:40.453 session . Uh , really important 27:40.453 --> 27:42.453 discussion . And we're grateful for 27:42.453 --> 27:44.676 your time and your expertise . Thanks , 27:44.676 --> 27:44.550 everybody . Mhm .