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COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts | Coronavirus & the MHS Response | COVID-19 Information for Military Treatment Facility Directors
More than 95% of the 1.4 million active duty service members have received at least one dose of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the latest figures from the Defense Department.
The total percentage of active duty service members fully vaccinated was 83.7%, while an additional 13.0% have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Oct. 13.
Overall, the DOD has administered more than 5.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Military Health System beneficiaries as of Oct. 13.
That means there were more than 3 million first doses, and 2.5 million second doses administered. There were also 234,894 single doses administered.
The percentages do not take into account those who have received either a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine or an additional shot due to a compromised immune system. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available under an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used interchangeable with the Comirnaty vaccine, which was given full approval by FDA on Sept. 23.
"COVID trends are moving in the right direction. At least in part due to our vaccination efforts, there are fewer infections, hospitalizations are down, and lives are being saved," said Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Ronald Place, director, Defense Health Agency.
"While we've reached an important milestone, there's more to be done. We must continue our efforts to vaccinate the force and encourage healthy behaviors. How much COVID-19 impacts our lives is at least partially up to us."
All of the service branches have set deadlines for getting their entire force vaccinated.
- Airmen and Space Force Guardians must be fully vaccinated – including a two-week period after a final shot – by Nov. 2. Air National Guardsmen and reservists have until Dec. 2. These are the tightest deadlines among the military services.
- The Army deadline for all active duty soldiers is Dec. 15, while guard and reserve troops have until June 30, 2022.
- The Navy deadline is Nov. 28 for active duty sailors and Marines, while the reservists date is Dec. 28.
Among National Guard and Reserves, 33.5% were fully vaccinated as of Oct. 12 and 20.8% were partially vaccinated.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced a mandate Aug. 24 for all military service members to receive vaccinations following the FDA's Aug. 23 approval of Comirnaty.