FEMA Asks Pentagon For Help Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has asked the Pentagon to help President Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million people against the coronavirus in his first 100 days in office, the spokesperson said Thursday of the Ministry of Defense (DOD).

“The Department of Defense has received a request from FEMA for assistance in administering the COVID-19 vaccine to various locations across the country. The Department is evaluating the request and the types of support it can provide, ”Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

Kirby said that given the importance of the request, “it will be examined urgently but carefully” to determine what military assets can be made available to safely assist.

“As [Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinOvernight Defense: FEMA asks Pentagon to help with vaccinations | US says Taliban has ‘not met their commitments’ | Army investigating Fort Hood chaplain Pentagon: Taliban has ‘not met their commitments’ under withdrawal deal Lloyd Austin has to back nuclear modernization for the free world MORE] said, the DOD is committed to doing everything it can to support the whole-of-government effort against COVID-19. “

CNN was the first to report on discussions between the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, of which FEMA is a part, on how the military can help the agency.

Possible solutions include sending up to 10,000 active duty soldiers and the National Guard in vaccine mega-tubes.

President Biden has an ambitious goal for the United States to vaccinate 1.5 million people per day in the coming weeks, he announced Monday.

“It will be a logistical challenge that is beyond anything we have ever tried in this country, but I think we can do it,” Biden said at a press conference.

But the White House has acted to temper expectations, with the press secretary Jen psakiJen PsakiPsaki expects DHS nominee Mayorkas to lead the task force to reunite the separated families. US Says Taliban “Failed to Live Up” | Army investigates Fort Hood chaplain in White House outraged by decision to release man convicted of Daniel Pearl murder Tuesday, making it clear that Biden was just optimistic and didn’t set a concrete goal.

White House COVID-19 Advisor Andy Slavitt said on Wednesday it will be “months” before all Americans who want a coronavirus vaccine can get one.