The U.S. military this week began vaccinating U.S. troops based overseas, focusing on military and civilian health workers, first responders and command teams.
Troops in Japan, South Korea and Europe were among the first to receive the vaccine amid increasing cases of coronavirus around the world.
Army-lt.col. Brian Cohee, a pulmonary and critical care physician, was among the twenty other service members who received the vaccine at Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital in Camp Humphreys, South Korea. Other sites that administer the Moderna vaccine are Osan Air Base and Kunsan Air Base, both in South Korea.
Sgt. Parmer Smith, 129th Medical Division, administers one of the first COVID-19 vaccines to Navy Non-Commissioned Officer, 2nd Class John London, a hospital staff, SOCKOR medics, at Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital in the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea Tuesday, December 29, 2020. (Spc. Erin Conway / US forces Korea against AP)
“I consider it a great privilege to be the one to start it in Korea,” Cohee told Stars and Stripes. “I have cared for a decent number of coronavirus patients and seen what it can do.”
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U.S. forces have begun vaccination at Yokota Air Base on Monday after receiving just under 8,000 doses last week, a military spokesman said Tuesday during a Facebook Live event.
Gen. Robert B. Abrams, head of the 28,500 U.S. troops deployed in South Korea, said in a statement that although the vaccine is 100% voluntary and not mandatory, I urge all individuals to use the vaccine. to receive. “
Gen. Robert B. Abrams, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army Korea, will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. (Personnel General Kris Bonet / US forces Korea against AP)
Abrams was among those vaccinated Tuesday.
He told Stars and Stripes that the Moderna vaccine was painless compared to the long-term effects of the anthrax vaccine series he received in Operation Desert Shield almost two decades ago.
The deployment of US troops to South Korea is intended to ward off potential aggression from the North, and Abrams said the COVID-19 vaccine ” is another tool that will help the USFK develop a robust combined defensive stance. to maintain. ‘
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In Europe, the US military said health clinics in Ansbach, Gragenwoehr and Vilseck, Germany, made their first vaccinations of health workers on Monday.
U.S. Army Captain Skyler Brown, GP in the First Squadron, 91st Golgotha Regiment (in the air), the 173rd Air Force of the Brigade Combat Team, is the first in the entire U.S. Army Europe and Africa to receive the coronavirus vaccine. (US European Command Public Affairs)
“The FDA may only approve the use of a COVID-19 vaccine after rigorous and rigorous testing and trials,” said Brig. Genl. Mark Thompson, Commanding General of Regional Health Command Europe, said in a statement. “We are excited to play a role in providing a very safe and effective vaccine to our military community. This vaccine is an important part of our path forward to our people, their families and the communities where we live and to protect work. “
The U.S. government and its partners will distribute 4.67 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine and that of Moderna, U.S. Army General Gustave Perna said last week.
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According to the FDA, the vaccine can cause side effects, including injection site pain, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, chills, fever and other problems.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.