WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)

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- [Narrator] Convalescent blood plasma

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from patients recently
recovered from COVID-19,

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contains antibodies whose sole mission

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is to counteract this deadly disease.

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The effectiveness of these
specialized blood proteins,

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prompted further study.

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So, in June, 2020,

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the DOD entrusted the
Defense Health Agency

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to lead an effort over three months

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to procure 10,000 units of plasma

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from patients throughout
the military health system

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who had fully recovered from COVID-19,

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supporting the research and development

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of potential treatments
against the disease.

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(upbeat music)

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- So early in the pandemic,

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it was thought that the
COVID-19 convalescent plasma,

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would help treat patients with COVID-19

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and lessen their severity of the illness.

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So, that was the importance
behind the collection.

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- If collected from
people who are recovering

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from their infection,

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they may have enough antibodies

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to help a seriously ill
patient fight the disease.

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- [Narrator] The military's blood program,

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implemented a targeted campaign effort

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to seek out qualified
donors across the country.

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(upbeat music)

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- We worked with the Armed
Services Blood Program

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and developed the whole series of toolkits

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and communications programs

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to encourage people to volunteer
and donate their plasma.

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- I think that the military health system,

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really came together
to support this effort.

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And from my perspective,

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I saw a complete whole
of government response

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from the DHA with the communications team,

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the data collection,

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reaching into our population health.

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- [Narrator] By the end of September,

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the Defense Health Agency
exceeded the department's goal,

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by procuring 10,750 units of plasma.

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- By the end of September,

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I think it was 30
September was our deadline,

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we were a little over 10,000
units of CCP in inventory.

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- So, something like this,

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it was a challenge but we
knew that we could face it

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and accomplish it.

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- There was just like a
really big team effort,

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behind the 10,000 units.

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We are so grateful to the donors,

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because they stepped up to the challenge,

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not only for maintaining
the regular blood supply,

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but also the convalescent plasma.

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(upbeat music)

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- [Narrator] In only 12 weeks time,

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the Defense Health Agency,

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launched a successful
military-wide campaign,

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surpassing their goals,

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while manifesting the rapid responsiveness

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of this dedicated team.