Department of Defense Statement on COVID-19 Distribution Plan

 Dec. 31, 2020

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The Department of Defense continues to deliver on the Acting Secretary of Defense’s priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect our people, maintain readiness, and support the national COVID-19 response. The phased, standardized, and coordinated distribution of vaccines to DoD personnel has expanded to additional locations in the United States and overseas. 
 
“Today, we recognize the outstanding efforts of the department in executing the initial phases of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process. Following emergency use authorization last week of the Moderna vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and issuance of prioritization guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Defense Health Agency, vaccines are now being distributed and administered to DoD populations in England, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines continue to DoD populations in multiple locations throughout the United States,” said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.
 
The Department of Defense maintains a deliberate and phased approach to distribute and administer allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine. The current distribution and administration process remains consistent with the department’s established plan. DoD’s plan also includes supporting increased distribution as vaccine production increases. 

The department prioritizes DoD personnel to receive the vaccine informed by CDC guidance and the Department’s own COVID-19 task force’s assessment of unique mission requirements. Priority groups include health care providers, support personnel, residents and staff of DoD long-term care facilities, and other essential workers and high-risk beneficiaries. 

DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT FACTS
- Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to more than 150 DoD vaccine administration sites in the United States and at overseas locations. 

- Since December 13, DoD has received more than 160,000 vaccine doses from the U.S. allocation.

- 175 medical professionals and 21 support personnel are currently supporting COVID response efforts in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Guam, Hawaii, the Navajo Nation, and California.

- 143 medical professionals preparing to support COVID response efforts in Arizona and to provide additional support for California and the Navajo Nation.

Information on the DOD vaccine distribution plan can be found here.

Information on vaccine administration sites can be found here.