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At the same time, the Department of Veterans Affairs announces to veterans groups that vaccinations will begin in the coming weeks.
The first tranche of the vaccine is expected to be relatively small in volume, so Pentagon military officials are scrambling to prioritize who gets it first. Military medical personnel are among those who should receive the vaccine first. Vaccinating health workers first would be in line with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Military officials are also discussing whether to vaccinate high priority units within the military at the same time or to stagger vaccinations. A concern at this very early stage is whether a vaccine will produce any side effects, the different reactions that different people might have to the vaccine, and whether that would risk destroying an entire unit.
The Pentagon is expected to issue additional guidance on vaccine distribution within the Department of Defense next week.
The Department of Veterans Affairs says frontline healthcare workers within the VA system will be the first priority.
“VA intends to provide the vaccination to veterans and employees once it becomes available,” spokeswoman Christina Noel said in a written statement regarding the ministry’s vaccination plans.
“Frontline health workers would have priority for vaccinations. The timing depends on when the vaccination becomes available.”
Health workers first
Tom Porter, executive vice president of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, confirmed that the AV told veterans groups in an appeal on Thursday that vaccine distribution would begin “within the next few weeks “.
Porter said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie was on call with Dr Richard Stone, Veterans Health Administration Officer Paul Lawrence, VA Under Secretary for Benefits , and others.
Porter said they were told that frontline healthcare workers would be a priority and that there were no details that some veterans would be as well, such as the elderly, minorities or people with pre-existing illnesses.
A source familiar with the VA’s decision-making said Stone has decided he won’t make the vaccine mandatory for Veterans Health Administration clinical staff unless – and until it’s passed. through the full approval process of the Food and Drug Administration.
If it is only approved as part of an emergency use authorization, which is the route the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are currently on, it will be voluntary, the source said.
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