WEBVTT

00:01.200 --> 00:03.950
(dramatic music)

00:06.150 --> 00:07.770
- [Narrator] In October, 2020,

00:07.770 --> 00:10.200
then Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper,

00:10.200 --> 00:12.090
tasked the Defense Health Agency

00:12.090 --> 00:14.670
to lead the department's
efforts in distributing

00:14.670 --> 00:17.583
and administering COVID-19 vaccines.

00:18.600 --> 00:21.600
After its vaccine pilot
program proves successful,

00:21.600 --> 00:25.980
in January, 2021, the DHAs
Operation Planning Team

00:25.980 --> 00:28.230
led an expanded distribution phase,

00:28.230 --> 00:29.943
which lasted until May.

00:31.470 --> 00:34.050
A major communications
and outreach campaign

00:34.050 --> 00:35.430
encouraged service members

00:35.430 --> 00:37.293
and their families to get vaccinated.

00:39.000 --> 00:42.600
By mid-July, more than 70%
of the active duty force

00:42.600 --> 00:45.120
had received at least one vaccine.

00:45.120 --> 00:48.106
- The success of the OPT put us on the map

00:48.106 --> 00:50.682
for being an operational
combat support agency.

00:50.682 --> 00:54.265
(dramatic music continues)