1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,250 Hello everyone . Happy thursday . 2 00:00:05,340 --> 00:00:08,880 Okay . So as you all should know by now , 3 00:00:08,890 --> 00:00:11,057 we are focusing today's press briefing 4 00:00:11,057 --> 00:00:13,168 on the department's efforts to combat 5 00:00:13,168 --> 00:00:15,270 the COVID-19 pandemic . And in line 6 00:00:15,270 --> 00:00:17,159 with those efforts today , Deputy 7 00:00:17,159 --> 00:00:19,270 Secretary Hicks and the Vice chairman 8 00:00:19,270 --> 00:00:21,381 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Heighten 9 00:00:21,381 --> 00:00:23,430 released a memo on quote methods to 10 00:00:23,430 --> 00:00:25,570 enable and encourage vaccination 11 00:00:25,580 --> 00:00:28,800 against covid 19 quote To speak about 12 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,689 this and the department's efforts 13 00:00:30,689 --> 00:00:32,911 broader efforts to defeat COVID-19 . We 14 00:00:32,911 --> 00:00:35,133 have two familiar special guest with us 15 00:00:35,133 --> 00:00:37,356 here today . Acting Assistant Secretary 16 00:00:37,356 --> 00:00:39,810 of Health Affairs Dr terry Durham and 17 00:00:39,810 --> 00:00:41,699 Lieutenant General Ron placed the 18 00:00:41,699 --> 00:00:43,921 director of the Defense Health Agency . 19 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,751 They will deliver opening remarks and 20 00:00:46,751 --> 00:00:48,529 then we'll take a few moderated 21 00:00:48,529 --> 00:00:50,696 questions . So at that welcome them to 22 00:00:50,696 --> 00:00:54,260 the stage . Thank you . All right . 23 00:00:54,740 --> 00:00:56,796 Good afternoon everybody . Thank you 24 00:00:56,796 --> 00:00:58,920 for joining us here today and thanks 25 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:00,809 for all the important work you do 26 00:01:00,809 --> 00:01:03,031 communicating with our troops and their 27 00:01:03,031 --> 00:01:04,976 families . General place and I are 28 00:01:04,976 --> 00:01:07,198 going to brief you today on D . O . D . 29 00:01:07,198 --> 00:01:09,531 S . Efforts to combat covid 19 uh D . O . 30 00:01:09,531 --> 00:01:11,820 D . Is continuing to play a key role in 31 00:01:11,820 --> 00:01:13,764 supporting the whole of government 32 00:01:13,764 --> 00:01:15,876 approach to defeating covid including 33 00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:17,931 supporting vaccination of our fellow 34 00:01:17,931 --> 00:01:19,764 americans while ensuring our own 35 00:01:19,764 --> 00:01:21,820 population is vaccinated . To date . 36 00:01:21,820 --> 00:01:23,820 We've administered over 3.3 million 37 00:01:23,820 --> 00:01:26,042 doses to eligible d . o . d . personnel 38 00:01:26,042 --> 00:01:28,690 with 58 of our active duty service 39 00:01:28,690 --> 00:01:30,950 members having had at least one dose . 40 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:33,870 Note that one month ago when we opened 41 00:01:33,870 --> 00:01:37,860 vaccination to all , we were only at 37 42 00:01:37,870 --> 00:01:39,592 of active duty service members 43 00:01:39,592 --> 00:01:41,648 receiving one dose . So we're making 44 00:01:41,648 --> 00:01:44,690 good steady progress . I also want to 45 00:01:44,690 --> 00:01:46,857 note that are active duty and national 46 00:01:46,857 --> 00:01:49,440 guard have to date administered over 15 47 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:51,660 million doses of vaccines and we thank 48 00:01:51,660 --> 00:01:53,827 them for their hard work and advancing 49 00:01:53,827 --> 00:01:56,310 vaccination across the country . Since 50 00:01:56,310 --> 00:01:58,588 the start of the COVID-19 pandemic , D . 51 00:01:58,588 --> 00:02:01,200 O . D . has had nearly 300,000 cases , 52 00:02:01,210 --> 00:02:03,210 just over 4000 hospitalizations and 53 00:02:03,210 --> 00:02:06,290 unfortunately 351 deaths . These are 54 00:02:06,290 --> 00:02:08,512 total numbers that include our military 55 00:02:08,512 --> 00:02:10,568 service members , their dependence , 56 00:02:10,568 --> 00:02:12,800 civilians and contractors . It's also 57 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,660 important to note that Covid 19 58 00:02:14,660 --> 00:02:16,660 infection and incidents and testing 59 00:02:16,660 --> 00:02:18,493 positivity rates for D . O . D . 60 00:02:18,493 --> 00:02:20,327 Personnel are lower than for the 61 00:02:20,327 --> 00:02:22,438 civilian population . Which is a sign 62 00:02:22,438 --> 00:02:24,271 that our force health protection 63 00:02:24,271 --> 00:02:26,230 measures are working with . Last 64 00:02:26,230 --> 00:02:28,440 month's expanding of eligibility of 65 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,607 vaccination to all D . O . D . Service 66 00:02:30,607 --> 00:02:32,829 members , personnel and beneficiaries . 67 00:02:32,829 --> 00:02:34,662 The department has redoubled its 68 00:02:34,662 --> 00:02:36,718 efforts to encourage everyone to get 69 00:02:36,718 --> 00:02:39,630 vaccinated . In fact , as Jamal 70 00:02:39,630 --> 00:02:41,686 mentioned , the deputy secretary and 71 00:02:41,686 --> 00:02:43,797 the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs 72 00:02:43,797 --> 00:02:45,963 of Staff issued a memo today to senior 73 00:02:45,963 --> 00:02:47,797 leaders that re inform firms the 74 00:02:47,797 --> 00:02:49,463 importance of vaccination and 75 00:02:49,463 --> 00:02:51,830 identifies the tools for affected 76 00:02:51,830 --> 00:02:54,650 vaccine encouragement . These tools are 77 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:56,493 already in widespread use by the 78 00:02:56,493 --> 00:02:58,760 services but this memo highlights their 79 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,500 importance . This memo focuses on four 80 00:03:02,510 --> 00:03:06,460 areas um that includes increasing 81 00:03:06,460 --> 00:03:09,220 accessibility to vaccine , providing 82 00:03:09,220 --> 00:03:10,960 opportunities for education , 83 00:03:10,970 --> 00:03:12,820 leveraging active duty personnel 84 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:15,230 policies to promote vaccination and 85 00:03:15,230 --> 00:03:17,452 ensuring engagement at the lowest level 86 00:03:17,452 --> 00:03:19,563 to acknowledge and address individual 87 00:03:19,563 --> 00:03:22,360 concerns we're honest and upfront in 88 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,138 acknowledging the department is 89 00:03:24,138 --> 00:03:26,360 confronting many of the same challenges 90 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,082 that the rest of America's and 91 00:03:28,082 --> 00:03:30,193 maximizing vaccine acceptance . We're 92 00:03:30,193 --> 00:03:32,304 using every tool possible to increase 93 00:03:32,304 --> 00:03:34,471 vaccination and will continue to do so 94 00:03:34,471 --> 00:03:36,582 from the secretary to the most junior 95 00:03:36,582 --> 00:03:39,040 leader . Last week , in accordance with 96 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,262 the C . D . C . Issuing new guidance on 97 00:03:41,262 --> 00:03:43,484 masking , the department announced that 98 00:03:43,484 --> 00:03:45,651 fully vaccinated D . O . D . Personnel 99 00:03:45,651 --> 00:03:47,690 can safely participate in most 100 00:03:47,690 --> 00:03:50,260 activities and are no longer required 101 00:03:50,260 --> 00:03:52,800 to wear a mask indoors or outdoors at 102 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:54,578 most . D . O . D . Facilities . 103 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,270 Unvaccinated personnel however , should 104 00:03:57,270 --> 00:03:59,400 continue wearing masks as required by 105 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,400 applicable D . O . D . Policy to 106 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,567 protect themselves and others who have 107 00:04:03,567 --> 00:04:07,190 not been fully vaccinated . To that end . 108 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,033 We are updating our force health 109 00:04:09,033 --> 00:04:11,200 protection guidance to align with this 110 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,367 CDC guidance on masking while ensuring 111 00:04:13,367 --> 00:04:15,200 that mass continue to be used in 112 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,144 appropriate settings . We know our 113 00:04:17,144 --> 00:04:19,367 fight against COVID-19 isn't over yet . 114 00:04:19,540 --> 00:04:21,484 But the C . D . C . S announcement 115 00:04:21,484 --> 00:04:23,262 underscores the fact that these 116 00:04:23,262 --> 00:04:25,096 vaccines work . They protect the 117 00:04:25,096 --> 00:04:27,262 recipient and their family members and 118 00:04:27,262 --> 00:04:29,429 will enable us to get back to normal . 119 00:04:29,429 --> 00:04:31,484 And lastly as you're aware , the FDA 120 00:04:31,484 --> 00:04:33,484 recently expanded the emergency use 121 00:04:33,484 --> 00:04:35,596 authorization for the Pfizer biontech 122 00:04:35,596 --> 00:04:37,707 vaccine to include adolescents 12 and 123 00:04:37,707 --> 00:04:39,540 above . We started shipping this 124 00:04:39,540 --> 00:04:41,520 vaccine . Oh Conus on May 14 and 125 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,340 anticipation of this decision and there 126 00:04:44,340 --> 00:04:46,562 will be enough vaccine in place for 1st 127 00:04:46,562 --> 00:04:48,507 and 2nd doses for all our overseas 128 00:04:48,507 --> 00:04:51,000 adolescent population . This 129 00:04:51,010 --> 00:04:53,232 authorization and our administration of 130 00:04:53,232 --> 00:04:55,399 vaccines to our adolescents is another 131 00:04:55,399 --> 00:04:57,510 significant step in our fight against 132 00:04:57,510 --> 00:04:59,566 Covid 19 D . O . D . Is committed to 133 00:04:59,566 --> 00:05:01,770 vaccinating all of our eligible 134 00:05:01,770 --> 00:05:04,030 adolescents . And I'll now turn it over 135 00:05:04,030 --> 00:05:06,030 to general place will speak more in 136 00:05:06,030 --> 00:05:07,919 depth about these issues . Sure . 137 00:05:07,919 --> 00:05:10,141 Thanks Doctor Durham and good afternoon 138 00:05:10,141 --> 00:05:12,252 to all of you here and on the phone , 139 00:05:12,252 --> 00:05:14,141 I'll briefly expand on DR dirhams 140 00:05:14,141 --> 00:05:16,474 remarks regarding our vaccination reach . 141 00:05:16,474 --> 00:05:16,130 As she mentioned . As of this morning , 142 00:05:16,130 --> 00:05:18,230 58% of the active duty force has 143 00:05:18,230 --> 00:05:22,070 received at least one dose And 44 are 144 00:05:22,070 --> 00:05:23,792 fully vaccinated . That number 145 00:05:23,792 --> 00:05:25,681 continues to increase every day . 146 00:05:25,681 --> 00:05:27,737 Senior commanders , military medical 147 00:05:27,737 --> 00:05:29,792 leaders , fellow service members and 148 00:05:29,792 --> 00:05:31,959 family members are all contributing to 149 00:05:31,959 --> 00:05:34,014 the increased vaccination rate . The 150 00:05:34,014 --> 00:05:35,959 doctor Durham also noted regarding 151 00:05:35,959 --> 00:05:37,848 emergency use authorization , the 152 00:05:37,848 --> 00:05:40,070 Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds . 153 00:05:40,070 --> 00:05:42,237 Last week we began shipping the Pfizer 154 00:05:42,237 --> 00:05:44,348 vaccine to our support to support our 155 00:05:44,348 --> 00:05:46,570 overseas adolescent community and those 156 00:05:46,570 --> 00:05:46,510 vaccinations actually have already 157 00:05:46,510 --> 00:05:48,843 begun . We continue to ship the vaccine . 158 00:05:48,843 --> 00:05:50,899 Too many installations in the United 159 00:05:50,899 --> 00:05:52,954 States as well that did not yet have 160 00:05:52,954 --> 00:05:55,120 the Pfizer vaccine for those military 161 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,176 installations that the United States 162 00:05:57,176 --> 00:05:59,398 that don't have the Pfizer vaccine were 163 00:05:59,398 --> 00:06:01,398 encouraging beneficiaries to obtain 164 00:06:01,398 --> 00:06:03,342 their vaccines from local civilian 165 00:06:03,342 --> 00:06:06,050 providers , pharmacies or other outlets . 166 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,750 Now that we've moved from a supply 167 00:06:08,750 --> 00:06:10,861 constrained environment to a desire . 168 00:06:10,861 --> 00:06:12,806 Constrained environment . We don't 169 00:06:12,806 --> 00:06:14,917 anticipate any challenges with access 170 00:06:14,917 --> 00:06:17,028 to vaccine and either the military or 171 00:06:17,028 --> 00:06:20,510 civilian settings . As Dr Doom . Also 172 00:06:20,510 --> 00:06:22,010 noted , our case rates and 173 00:06:22,010 --> 00:06:24,066 hospitalization rates are well below 174 00:06:24,066 --> 00:06:26,177 civilian rates . As of this morning , 175 00:06:26,177 --> 00:06:28,121 we have 29 in patients in military 176 00:06:28,121 --> 00:06:30,066 hospitals worldwide that are COVID 177 00:06:30,066 --> 00:06:32,177 positive . I would point out that our 178 00:06:32,177 --> 00:06:34,121 hospitalizations are at the lowest 179 00:06:34,121 --> 00:06:36,343 number within the department since June 180 00:06:36,343 --> 00:06:38,510 12 of 2020 And only slightly higher 181 00:06:38,510 --> 00:06:41,040 than they were in early June . The 182 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,262 lowest number that we have consolidated 183 00:06:43,262 --> 00:06:46,040 records of was on June seven 21 in 184 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,180 patients . Another indication of the 185 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:50,347 degree to which the vaccine is keeping 186 00:06:50,347 --> 00:06:52,560 people healthy and out of the hospital 187 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,096 as a military force , we continue to 188 00:06:55,096 --> 00:06:56,984 learn and adapt our strategies to 189 00:06:56,984 --> 00:06:59,318 combat this disease . Earlier this week , 190 00:06:59,318 --> 00:07:01,484 I hosted a meeting with our allies and 191 00:07:01,484 --> 00:07:03,707 partner nations military medical forces 192 00:07:03,707 --> 00:07:03,660 to better understand effective 193 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:06,030 approaches in terms of both treatment 194 00:07:06,090 --> 00:07:08,490 and vaccinations , I'm grateful for the 195 00:07:08,490 --> 00:07:10,601 contributions and collaboration of so 196 00:07:10,601 --> 00:07:12,712 many medical professionals throughout 197 00:07:12,712 --> 00:07:14,990 the United States and across the world . 198 00:07:14,990 --> 00:07:16,934 Finally , another thank you to our 199 00:07:16,934 --> 00:07:19,046 service members and other D . O . D . 200 00:07:19,046 --> 00:07:18,670 Personnel who have chosen to get 201 00:07:18,670 --> 00:07:21,270 vaccinated and uh and continue to 202 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,558 encourage their fellow service members , 203 00:07:23,558 --> 00:07:25,810 family members and friends to do the 204 00:07:25,810 --> 00:07:28,032 same as well . Thanks again for joining 205 00:07:28,032 --> 00:07:29,921 us today , I look forward to your 206 00:07:29,921 --> 00:07:32,143 questions . Thank you very much . First 207 00:07:32,143 --> 00:07:34,199 question . Megan . Uh , first is the 208 00:07:34,199 --> 00:07:36,366 memo going to be sent around or put up 209 00:07:36,366 --> 00:07:38,532 on defense dot gov . Members should be 210 00:07:38,532 --> 00:07:40,810 on defense dot gov right now . Perfect . 211 00:07:40,810 --> 00:07:42,810 Other question about lifting of the 212 00:07:42,810 --> 00:07:44,977 mask mandates and probably for general 213 00:07:44,977 --> 00:07:48,540 place , whose responsibility is it to 214 00:07:48,540 --> 00:07:50,930 maintain accountability in workplaces 215 00:07:50,930 --> 00:07:53,110 are in units for who's vaccinated ? 216 00:07:53,110 --> 00:07:55,110 Who's not ? Who should be wearing a 217 00:07:55,110 --> 00:07:57,166 mask and who doesn't need to be sure 218 00:07:57,166 --> 00:07:59,600 that's leader business . And so where 219 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,600 you're a member of a unit of course 220 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,378 commanders business where we're 221 00:08:03,378 --> 00:08:05,433 civilian employees , then we use the 222 00:08:05,433 --> 00:08:07,560 appropriate labor law or internal 223 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,970 discipline like we do for the thousands 224 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,231 of regulations and rules that we have 225 00:08:12,231 --> 00:08:14,120 for everyday business . It's just 226 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,231 another one of those rules . Doctor , 227 00:08:16,231 --> 00:08:19,670 what's an example of leveraging policy 228 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,570 to promote vaccine ? Take rates . 229 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:26,150 Sure . Sure . Our 230 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,380 commanders have uh wide 231 00:08:29,390 --> 00:08:33,360 authority um to use personnel policies . 232 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,050 So for example um one policy that is 233 00:08:37,060 --> 00:08:39,227 not necessarily a commander but one of 234 00:08:39,227 --> 00:08:40,893 the policies that people were 235 00:08:40,893 --> 00:08:43,740 vaccinated do not have to uh quarantine 236 00:08:43,740 --> 00:08:45,962 pre and post travel . But if you're not 237 00:08:45,962 --> 00:08:48,440 vaccinated you still have to . That's 238 00:08:48,450 --> 00:08:50,672 an example of one policy with regard to 239 00:08:50,672 --> 00:08:52,672 what commanders have control over . 240 00:08:52,740 --> 00:08:54,851 They have control over leaves so they 241 00:08:54,851 --> 00:08:57,690 can give liberally for example , to 242 00:08:57,690 --> 00:09:00,250 those who get vaccinated . Mm . 243 00:09:02,940 --> 00:09:04,940 Next question We'll take one by the 244 00:09:04,940 --> 00:09:05,960 phone peter Lowy 245 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,160 they were hi thanks very much for doing 246 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,271 this . Um I wanted to ask about South 247 00:09:14,271 --> 00:09:16,493 korean troops being offered the J . And 248 00:09:16,493 --> 00:09:18,604 J . Vaccine . Um What other countries 249 00:09:18,604 --> 00:09:20,716 are being offered the vaccine through 250 00:09:20,716 --> 00:09:22,604 the U . S . Military ? What other 251 00:09:22,604 --> 00:09:24,827 countries have asked for the vaccine to 252 00:09:24,827 --> 00:09:26,771 the military and have US forces in 253 00:09:26,771 --> 00:09:28,930 Japan then asked or offered to 254 00:09:28,930 --> 00:09:31,152 vaccinate to prepare for the olympics . 255 00:09:33,190 --> 00:09:36,680 Start Sure . So um just like we do for 256 00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:38,736 all allied partners or other nations 257 00:09:38,736 --> 00:09:40,624 who have dialogue with the United 258 00:09:40,624 --> 00:09:42,680 States . Uh the policy decisions are 259 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:44,736 made by the policy decision makers . 260 00:09:44,736 --> 00:09:46,458 Led by the White House and the 261 00:09:46,458 --> 00:09:48,700 president . Our job is to execute 262 00:09:48,710 --> 00:09:50,766 against those policy decisions . I'm 263 00:09:50,766 --> 00:09:52,766 currently unaware of any changes in 264 00:09:52,766 --> 00:09:54,710 policy decisions for us to execute 265 00:09:54,710 --> 00:09:57,800 against in terms of the olympics . It's 266 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,911 not something I know anything about . 267 00:09:59,911 --> 00:10:02,133 No I have no awareness of that . But as 268 00:10:02,133 --> 00:10:04,300 general place said these are decisions 269 00:10:04,300 --> 00:10:06,411 by policymakers above our pay grade . 270 00:10:06,420 --> 00:10:08,642 Um And we're not aware of anything that 271 00:10:08,642 --> 00:10:11,850 we have been told to support this 272 00:10:11,850 --> 00:10:15,320 time . Great next question 273 00:10:15,330 --> 00:10:18,930 johnny . I have a question for 274 00:10:18,930 --> 00:10:21,690 you . The C . D . C . Has stopped 275 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:24,660 monitoring breakthrough infections 276 00:10:24,670 --> 00:10:28,310 among the vaccinated individuals . Now 277 00:10:28,310 --> 00:10:31,300 all uh started you know everybody 278 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:34,890 started to take off their masks . Are 279 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:38,220 there any new guidelines for the 280 00:10:38,230 --> 00:10:41,780 breakthrough infections for the 281 00:10:41,790 --> 00:10:45,350 CBc or your we are 282 00:10:45,350 --> 00:10:49,070 continuing to uh test those individuals 283 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,820 who are symptomatic just as we have 284 00:10:51,830 --> 00:10:55,510 before . We are also continuing to 285 00:10:55,510 --> 00:10:58,290 test under our current Force Health 286 00:10:58,290 --> 00:11:00,520 Protection guidance under those 287 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,520 circumstances that we need to . For 288 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,440 example those individuals who are not 289 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,496 vaccinated , I know that wasn't what 290 00:11:07,496 --> 00:11:09,718 you had asked but those individuals who 291 00:11:09,718 --> 00:11:11,773 are not vaccinated uh may have to be 292 00:11:11,773 --> 00:11:13,551 tested before travel . So we're 293 00:11:13,551 --> 00:11:16,510 currently under our current Force 294 00:11:16,510 --> 00:11:18,830 Health Protection guidelines with 295 00:11:18,830 --> 00:11:20,830 regard to testing 296 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,340 if people dying 297 00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:27,490 because of you know , break through the 298 00:11:27,490 --> 00:11:29,880 infections . You know that from 299 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,620 vaccinated individuals right ? The 300 00:11:32,620 --> 00:11:36,240 vaccines are extraordinarily safe . The 301 00:11:36,250 --> 00:11:39,170 people are not dying from infections . 302 00:11:39,170 --> 00:11:41,370 In fact what the data and the science 303 00:11:41,370 --> 00:11:43,550 has shown us is that the vaccine 304 00:11:43,550 --> 00:11:45,420 prevents serious infections , 305 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:49,400 Hospitalizations and deaths . So just 306 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,160 a little bit so uh one of the decisions 307 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,160 that the Department of Defense made 308 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,520 almost a year ago Was to activate a 309 00:11:56,530 --> 00:11:59,520 COVID-19 registry which is a database 310 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,010 essentially of all all of our 311 00:12:02,010 --> 00:12:04,010 beneficiaries , all of our patients 312 00:12:04,010 --> 00:12:06,177 who've ever been tested positive . And 313 00:12:06,177 --> 00:12:08,343 we also have the same sort of database 314 00:12:08,343 --> 00:12:10,454 for everybody that we vaccinated . So 315 00:12:10,454 --> 00:12:12,343 even though the C . D . C . isn't 316 00:12:12,343 --> 00:12:14,343 requiring it we still track it . So 317 00:12:14,343 --> 00:12:16,343 what I can tell you is of the first 318 00:12:16,343 --> 00:12:15,990 part of this week which is the last 319 00:12:15,990 --> 00:12:19,150 time I saw the data of the 1.5 million 320 00:12:19,150 --> 00:12:21,200 or so just showed of who are fully 321 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,010 vaccinated . We've had 1640 some , 322 00:12:25,020 --> 00:12:27,242 I don't remember the exact number again 323 00:12:27,242 --> 00:12:29,740 earlier this week , but about 16 40 16 324 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:32,270 50 that were breakthroughs of those 16 325 00:12:32,270 --> 00:12:34,381 50 or so . There were breakthroughs . 326 00:12:34,381 --> 00:12:36,326 We've had 24 hospitalizations . Of 327 00:12:36,326 --> 00:12:38,437 those 24 hospitalizations , we've had 328 00:12:38,437 --> 00:12:40,492 zero deaths . So the department does 329 00:12:40,492 --> 00:12:42,603 track to that level of detail exactly 330 00:12:42,603 --> 00:12:44,603 what's happening to whom , the good 331 00:12:44,603 --> 00:12:47,180 news to all that as opposed to the The 332 00:12:47,180 --> 00:12:49,940 95 or whatever rates that we're seeing 333 00:12:49,950 --> 00:12:52,061 published from the Phase two or Phase 334 00:12:52,061 --> 00:12:54,228 three clinical trials . If you do that 335 00:12:54,228 --> 00:12:56,920 math 99.9 effective for our 336 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,710 beneficiaries of preventing 337 00:12:58,710 --> 00:13:00,210 breakthrough infection and 338 00:13:00,210 --> 00:13:03,930 99.999 effective in 339 00:13:03,930 --> 00:13:06,860 preventing hospitalization and 100 340 00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:09,796 in preventing death . Now that's all 341 00:13:09,796 --> 00:13:11,962 Comers writes all vaccines . So that's 342 00:13:11,962 --> 00:13:13,796 the Pfizer vaccine , the Moderna 343 00:13:13,796 --> 00:13:15,684 vaccine and the J and J's Janssen 344 00:13:15,684 --> 00:13:17,810 vaccine . But that's the data that I 345 00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:19,977 can at least globally share with you . 346 00:13:19,977 --> 00:13:21,977 That I track is the director of the 347 00:13:21,977 --> 00:13:24,199 Defense South Agent Agency every week . 348 00:13:24,199 --> 00:13:26,770 Anything that is about the overseas 349 00:13:26,780 --> 00:13:29,340 troops , they have involved with 350 00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:31,730 breakthrough infections , anybody . 351 00:13:32,620 --> 00:13:35,870 Right . So that's a great question . 352 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,040 The numbers are too small , means 1640 353 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,096 some breakthrough infections isn't a 354 00:13:41,096 --> 00:13:42,984 large enough number to be able to 355 00:13:42,984 --> 00:13:44,762 regression analysis and look at 356 00:13:44,762 --> 00:13:46,707 specific specific factors that may 357 00:13:46,707 --> 00:13:48,818 increase or decrease risks around the 358 00:13:48,818 --> 00:13:51,151 world . It's just not big enough number . 359 00:13:51,151 --> 00:13:53,318 And that's a good thing . Right . It's 360 00:13:53,318 --> 00:13:53,190 good that we don't have that many 361 00:13:53,190 --> 00:13:55,357 breakthroughs . But when we talk about 362 00:13:55,357 --> 00:13:57,246 safety and efficacy in particular 363 00:13:57,246 --> 00:13:59,410 efficacy , that's why we keep talking 364 00:13:59,410 --> 00:14:01,170 about within the department is 365 00:14:01,170 --> 00:14:04,360 99.9 effective 366 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:06,900 In the community for us . 367 00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:10,470 and 99.999 effective in preventing 368 00:14:10,470 --> 00:14:12,581 hospitalization . That's incredible . 369 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:16,210 That's why I see this is monitoring . 370 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:19,530 They don't do any more of this probably . 371 00:14:19,540 --> 00:14:22,010 Thank you very much . Next question , 372 00:14:22,020 --> 00:14:24,310 Caitlin . Yeah . I wanted to come back 373 00:14:24,310 --> 00:14:27,200 to what you said about moving into a 374 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,660 desire constrained environment . Can 375 00:14:29,660 --> 00:14:31,716 you talk a little bit more ? Tell me 376 00:14:31,716 --> 00:14:33,882 what that means these people wanted so 377 00:14:33,882 --> 00:14:35,882 before it was supply , there's more 378 00:14:35,882 --> 00:14:38,049 people who wanted it than we had had a 379 00:14:38,049 --> 00:14:40,271 vaccine for now based on the increasing 380 00:14:40,271 --> 00:14:42,510 manufacturing and those that really 381 00:14:42,510 --> 00:14:44,566 really wanted it largely have gotten 382 00:14:44,566 --> 00:14:46,788 the vaccine and now it's it's people on 383 00:14:46,788 --> 00:14:49,121 the fence or people who , quite frankly , 384 00:14:49,121 --> 00:14:51,121 for whatever their personal reasons 385 00:14:51,121 --> 00:14:53,232 have decided not to . So to the point 386 00:14:53,232 --> 00:14:55,454 that Dr Darren was making is how can we 387 00:14:55,454 --> 00:14:57,677 get in that information space ? How can 388 00:14:57,677 --> 00:14:59,843 we really show people true data . It's 389 00:14:59,843 --> 00:15:01,899 one of the reasons I'm I'm and put a 390 00:15:01,899 --> 00:15:04,010 little bit hard on how effective it's 391 00:15:04,010 --> 00:15:03,890 been in our community because I think 392 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:06,067 there's a lot of people think it's not 393 00:15:06,067 --> 00:15:08,289 an effective vaccine . These vaccines , 394 00:15:08,289 --> 00:15:10,400 this suite of vaccines are incredibly 395 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,400 effective . So it's about how do we 396 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,622 inform , what is the real decision that 397 00:15:14,622 --> 00:15:16,844 you're making ? So I say desire based , 398 00:15:16,844 --> 00:15:19,178 it's what's what's in it for me , Right . 399 00:15:19,178 --> 00:15:21,250 How do I see value to this for me or 400 00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:23,583 how do I see this for value for my kids ? 401 00:15:23,583 --> 00:15:25,583 And one of the interesting things I 402 00:15:25,583 --> 00:15:27,750 think that we're going to start seeing 403 00:15:27,750 --> 00:15:29,806 is that some parents with adolescent 404 00:15:29,806 --> 00:15:29,730 kids who want their kids vaccinated . 405 00:15:29,830 --> 00:15:31,941 The kids are going to say , hey mom , 406 00:15:31,941 --> 00:15:33,886 Hey dad , what about you ? Are you 407 00:15:33,886 --> 00:15:35,774 vaccinated ? And the embarrassing 408 00:15:35,774 --> 00:15:37,941 answer is going to be in some cases at 409 00:15:37,941 --> 00:15:40,210 least know why not . And then what's 410 00:15:40,210 --> 00:15:42,432 that going to do to that desire part of 411 00:15:42,432 --> 00:15:44,654 the equation . So it's all about that . 412 00:15:44,654 --> 00:15:47,810 What are the barriers ? How close am I 413 00:15:47,810 --> 00:15:50,032 to a vaccination site ? How easy to get 414 00:15:50,032 --> 00:15:52,143 an appointment ? All those things are 415 00:15:52,143 --> 00:15:54,199 improving over time . And that's the 416 00:15:54,199 --> 00:15:56,254 sort of things that I mean by desire 417 00:15:56,254 --> 00:15:55,830 constrained environment . Do you think 418 00:15:55,830 --> 00:15:59,510 that the decision to allow the 419 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:01,420 mass to come off for vaccinated 420 00:16:01,420 --> 00:16:04,610 individuals ? Have you seen an increase 421 00:16:04,620 --> 00:16:08,530 in that the desire to get vaccinated ? 422 00:16:08,530 --> 00:16:10,752 And do you think that that will have an 423 00:16:10,752 --> 00:16:13,940 effect in that area ? Well , I have a 424 00:16:13,940 --> 00:16:15,940 hard time speculating why people do 425 00:16:15,940 --> 00:16:18,162 what they do and sometimes I don't know 426 00:16:18,162 --> 00:16:20,180 why I do what I do . Uh but but the 427 00:16:20,180 --> 00:16:22,347 amount of time that that has changed , 428 00:16:22,347 --> 00:16:24,291 it's only been a few days . And so 429 00:16:24,291 --> 00:16:26,513 we've we've been seeing a slow decadent 430 00:16:26,513 --> 00:16:28,736 in the in the number of people who come 431 00:16:28,736 --> 00:16:30,791 to our vaccination sites over time . 432 00:16:30,791 --> 00:16:32,958 It's neither increased nor decreased . 433 00:16:32,958 --> 00:16:35,124 Since the deputy secretary changed the 434 00:16:35,124 --> 00:16:37,124 policy for the department late last 435 00:16:37,124 --> 00:16:41,110 week . So we have Patricia for military 436 00:16:41,110 --> 00:16:44,250 dot com . Hi , thanks for taking my 437 00:16:44,250 --> 00:16:47,110 question . I know you are tracking 438 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,400 vaccine declination is , but I'm 439 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,510 wondering if you have a sense at all of 440 00:16:52,510 --> 00:16:56,230 how many service members may 441 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,630 um just not ever get vaccinated and um 442 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,270 you know how you're gonna handle that . 443 00:17:02,540 --> 00:17:06,350 Uh and uh and are you planning for 444 00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:08,770 the FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine ? 445 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,370 Okay , so I hear two questions in that . 446 00:17:12,380 --> 00:17:16,220 Um . Hi patty . How are you ? Um So the 447 00:17:16,220 --> 00:17:20,120 first part of it um uh with uh 448 00:17:20,130 --> 00:17:22,463 what was the first part of the question ? 449 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,330 It was about declination and whether 450 00:17:26,330 --> 00:17:28,552 you you're going to have a sense of how 451 00:17:28,552 --> 00:17:30,920 many service members may just forego 452 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,270 the vaccine altogether . No , we are 453 00:17:33,270 --> 00:17:35,159 not tracking declination . You're 454 00:17:35,159 --> 00:17:37,214 correct about that . Um but we are a 455 00:17:37,214 --> 00:17:39,620 reflection of society . So I would 456 00:17:39,620 --> 00:17:43,560 imagine that those that uh maybe and we 457 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:45,616 don't know the answer to this . Like 458 00:17:45,616 --> 00:17:49,140 refusing vaccination . Um you know , 459 00:17:49,140 --> 00:17:51,196 may reflect what we're seeing out in 460 00:17:51,196 --> 00:17:54,570 the civilian sector . Um That said um 461 00:17:54,580 --> 00:17:57,010 there's no plans at this time to make 462 00:17:57,010 --> 00:18:00,910 vaccine mandatory . Um If and when the 463 00:18:00,910 --> 00:18:04,270 F . D . A . Um does license the vaccine , 464 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,350 we'll make a decision at that time . 465 00:18:11,340 --> 00:18:13,950 Next question , Courtney follow up on 466 00:18:13,950 --> 00:18:17,950 actually the same question . But um if 467 00:18:18,340 --> 00:18:20,507 you're not checking the declarations , 468 00:18:20,507 --> 00:18:22,729 I understand that . But do you have any 469 00:18:22,729 --> 00:18:22,530 sense of like sort of the demographics 470 00:18:22,530 --> 00:18:24,586 of who has not been vaccinated among 471 00:18:24,586 --> 00:18:27,320 the uniformed military ? Is there like 472 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,098 a certain age range that you're 473 00:18:29,098 --> 00:18:31,320 focusing on ? Is there or is there like 474 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:33,431 a original difference that people are 475 00:18:33,431 --> 00:18:35,598 stationed overseas ? Maybe are more or 476 00:18:35,598 --> 00:18:37,709 less likely to get anything like that 477 00:18:37,709 --> 00:18:40,160 you can share on who's not getting it ? 478 00:18:40,170 --> 00:18:42,281 You know , we do , we do have some of 479 00:18:42,281 --> 00:18:44,570 that data . Yes , ma'am . So again , if 480 00:18:44,570 --> 00:18:46,980 you look at the demographics of America , 481 00:18:46,990 --> 00:18:49,260 that's the same demographics who are 482 00:18:49,260 --> 00:18:51,149 accepting the vaccination . We're 483 00:18:51,149 --> 00:18:53,500 finding that that while early on . And 484 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:55,667 I think we talked about a little bit . 485 00:18:55,667 --> 00:18:58,000 When we were in our phased based schema , 486 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,167 we were somewhat concerned about there 487 00:19:00,167 --> 00:19:02,389 are some disparity between demographics 488 00:19:02,389 --> 00:19:04,500 of who is being vaccinated . What the 489 00:19:04,500 --> 00:19:06,389 demographics of the Department of 490 00:19:06,389 --> 00:19:08,444 Defense was , What we found now that 491 00:19:08,444 --> 00:19:08,000 we've gone through all of our phases of 492 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,800 our schema that the percentage by race 493 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,911 or the percentage by ethnicity or the 494 00:19:12,911 --> 00:19:15,078 percentage by age or the percentage by 495 00:19:15,078 --> 00:19:17,078 gender , it's generally the same as 496 00:19:17,078 --> 00:19:19,078 what we have in the department . So 497 00:19:19,078 --> 00:19:21,244 there's no particular Demographic that 498 00:19:21,244 --> 00:19:23,420 makes you more likely or less likely . 499 00:19:23,420 --> 00:19:25,370 With a couple of exceptions are 500 00:19:25,370 --> 00:19:27,780 physicians are vaccinated at a really 501 00:19:27,780 --> 00:19:30,930 high rate . Uh , those who are over the 502 00:19:30,930 --> 00:19:33,600 age of 65 are vaccinated at a really 503 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,180 high rate . Those who are staff in 504 00:19:36,180 --> 00:19:39,260 particular Residents of the two Armed 505 00:19:39,260 --> 00:19:41,990 forces retirement homes Are vaccinated 506 00:19:41,990 --> 00:19:45,040 at extraordinarily high rates 100 as an 507 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,400 example . So what we're seeing in what 508 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,622 were responsible for looks an awful lot 509 00:19:49,622 --> 00:19:51,622 like what the rest of America looks 510 00:19:51,622 --> 00:19:53,678 like . If you look overseas . On the 511 00:19:53,678 --> 00:19:55,789 other hand , uh , every single one of 512 00:19:55,789 --> 00:19:57,733 the co coms is now vaccinated both 513 00:19:57,733 --> 00:19:59,930 partially and fully at rates that are 514 00:19:59,930 --> 00:20:02,280 higher than the United States and in 515 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,450 some cases that extraordinarily high 516 00:20:04,450 --> 00:20:06,728 rates . Yeah , and I would add to that . 517 00:20:06,728 --> 00:20:08,728 I think the reason why we're seeing 518 00:20:08,728 --> 00:20:10,783 this is because like in the civilian 519 00:20:10,783 --> 00:20:13,110 sector , you have access issues in the 520 00:20:13,110 --> 00:20:15,110 military , especially for our armed 521 00:20:15,110 --> 00:20:17,570 forces . Um , we don't have that access 522 00:20:17,570 --> 00:20:19,820 issue , Right ? So they have equal 523 00:20:19,820 --> 00:20:22,042 access among groups . So we're just not 524 00:20:22,042 --> 00:20:24,850 seeing the same level of disparities , 525 00:20:24,860 --> 00:20:27,027 um , that we're seeing in the civilian 526 00:20:27,027 --> 00:20:29,138 sector clear when you said there's no 527 00:20:29,138 --> 00:20:31,249 place to make the vaccine mandatory , 528 00:20:31,249 --> 00:20:33,560 but if they do , the FDA does approve 529 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,520 full authorization or whatever for 530 00:20:35,530 --> 00:20:38,710 Pfizer . Could you see there being a 531 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,230 mandatory for certain elements of the 532 00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:43,590 military ? So the nuclear force people 533 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:45,757 who have like maybe are a scientific , 534 00:20:45,757 --> 00:20:47,479 an immediate reaction force or 535 00:20:47,479 --> 00:20:49,534 something , Could you see that being 536 00:20:49,534 --> 00:20:51,701 implemented ? Well , I can't speculate 537 00:20:51,701 --> 00:20:54,820 at this time with regard to who , you 538 00:20:54,820 --> 00:20:57,750 know , if and who would be um , it 539 00:20:57,750 --> 00:20:59,890 would be mandatory for . But just 540 00:20:59,890 --> 00:21:02,450 understand we mandate vaccine licensed 541 00:21:02,450 --> 00:21:05,170 vaccines for our uniform service 542 00:21:05,170 --> 00:21:07,880 members um , routinely . So you can 543 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,400 imagine that , you know , like other 544 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,680 licensed vaccines , you know , we may 545 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:15,370 consider it , but not necessarily . 546 00:21:15,370 --> 00:21:18,180 Even I can't I can't , you know , make 547 00:21:18,180 --> 00:21:20,150 that conjecture now , if and when 548 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,860 vaccines these vaccines do become 549 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,500 licensed , then we'll make a decision 550 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:29,460 at that time . Next question . Or in 551 00:21:31,140 --> 00:21:33,084 do you have any information on the 552 00:21:33,084 --> 00:21:35,307 prevalence of any of the covid variants 553 00:21:35,307 --> 00:21:37,170 in the population ? And what 554 00:21:37,170 --> 00:21:39,337 preparatory work are you doing in case 555 00:21:39,337 --> 00:21:42,940 there's a need for boosters . Sure . So 556 00:21:42,950 --> 00:21:45,940 we have our own whole genomic 557 00:21:45,940 --> 00:21:48,107 laboratories that we use . If you look 558 00:21:48,107 --> 00:21:50,329 at the results that we're seeing in our 559 00:21:50,329 --> 00:21:52,218 laboratories , both in the United 560 00:21:52,218 --> 00:21:54,440 States and around the world , they look 561 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:53,600 very similar to what you're seeing 562 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,711 reported by other laboratories . So , 563 00:21:55,711 --> 00:21:57,650 um , in terms of numbers , the 564 00:21:57,650 --> 00:21:59,706 frequencies , et cetera , what we're 565 00:21:59,706 --> 00:22:02,170 finding our labs is the same in terms 566 00:22:02,170 --> 00:22:03,892 of boosters . I'm not going to 567 00:22:03,892 --> 00:22:06,059 speculate again on hypotheticals , but 568 00:22:06,059 --> 00:22:08,390 if there's some sort of evidence that 569 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:10,678 indicates that there are better safety , 570 00:22:10,678 --> 00:22:12,511 better efficacy with three doses 571 00:22:12,511 --> 00:22:15,410 instead of two or period the city being 572 00:22:15,410 --> 00:22:18,310 at some interval , like we do for our 573 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,431 our tetanus updates or those sorts of 574 00:22:20,431 --> 00:22:22,376 things . That would be a licensing 575 00:22:22,376 --> 00:22:24,598 decision . And as dr Graham has already 576 00:22:24,598 --> 00:22:26,709 mentioned , we're not gonna get ahead 577 00:22:26,709 --> 00:22:28,820 of any licensing decisions , but it's 578 00:22:28,820 --> 00:22:30,931 risk based decision making . So fully 579 00:22:30,931 --> 00:22:33,098 license and and good data . Maybe so , 580 00:22:33,098 --> 00:22:35,042 or maybe that , I'm sorry doctor , 581 00:22:35,042 --> 00:22:37,209 maybe that because Covid sort of wipes 582 00:22:37,209 --> 00:22:39,320 itself out and isn't an issue anymore 583 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,376 that from a risk based scenario , uh 584 00:22:41,376 --> 00:22:43,320 that just doesn't seem worth it to 585 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:45,264 vaccinate all of us because of the 586 00:22:45,264 --> 00:22:47,431 small but real risks that do come from 587 00:22:47,431 --> 00:22:49,431 vaccines . Right . And if that were 588 00:22:49,431 --> 00:22:51,598 something that was determined uh to be 589 00:22:51,598 --> 00:22:53,850 necessary , we routinely give vaccines 590 00:22:53,850 --> 00:22:56,760 to our service members . So give annual 591 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,982 flu vaccines , for example . So we'd be 592 00:22:58,982 --> 00:23:01,316 ready to do that . If that came to pass . 593 00:23:01,450 --> 00:23:03,394 At this point , there's no need to 594 00:23:03,394 --> 00:23:05,561 create a booster stockpile or anything 595 00:23:05,561 --> 00:23:07,283 like that . Am I covering that 596 00:23:07,283 --> 00:23:10,120 correctly ? I don't know what it be . 597 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:12,350 So again , I hate to speculate on what 598 00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:14,239 might be and all the branches and 599 00:23:14,239 --> 00:23:16,350 Sequels that come out from what might 600 00:23:16,350 --> 00:23:18,461 be . I will tell you just like when , 601 00:23:18,461 --> 00:23:20,461 uh , when I first talked about this 602 00:23:20,461 --> 00:23:23,130 with uh , Secretary Mccaffrey back in 603 00:23:23,130 --> 00:23:25,410 december . Right . We're using the 604 00:23:25,410 --> 00:23:28,850 whole laid out of , of our mass 605 00:23:28,850 --> 00:23:31,017 vaccination protocol that we use every 606 00:23:31,017 --> 00:23:33,470 year for influenza as this . We would 607 00:23:33,470 --> 00:23:35,526 use the same sorts of things for any 608 00:23:35,526 --> 00:23:37,526 mass vaccination protocol , whether 609 00:23:37,526 --> 00:23:39,900 it's influenza boosters or anything 610 00:23:39,900 --> 00:23:42,011 else . We have the systems in place . 611 00:23:42,340 --> 00:23:46,330 Yeah . Yeah . Thank you . Uh , general 612 00:23:46,330 --> 00:23:48,386 place this , There's been talk for a 613 00:23:48,386 --> 00:23:50,552 long time about those folks who turned 614 00:23:50,552 --> 00:23:52,774 down the vaccine , right ? And then all 615 00:23:52,774 --> 00:23:54,719 these efforts to reach out to them 616 00:23:54,719 --> 00:23:56,830 again and again and some are starting 617 00:23:56,830 --> 00:23:59,052 to get it right . Uh , so are um , does 618 00:23:59,052 --> 00:24:00,997 it even matter at this point since 619 00:24:00,997 --> 00:24:03,219 you're rising in the level of those who 620 00:24:03,219 --> 00:24:05,386 have been vaccinated that you go after 621 00:24:05,386 --> 00:24:07,663 them so aggressively to get vaccinated ? 622 00:24:07,663 --> 00:24:09,608 Are you reaching some sort of herd 623 00:24:09,608 --> 00:24:11,719 immunity in the military ? Well , the 624 00:24:11,719 --> 00:24:14,840 fact that we're still having infections 625 00:24:14,850 --> 00:24:18,310 every single day in the hundreds and 626 00:24:18,310 --> 00:24:21,990 the fact that we still have 20 29 627 00:24:21,990 --> 00:24:24,480 people in the hospital , that's 29 too 628 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,591 many in the hospital that several 100 629 00:24:26,591 --> 00:24:28,830 more than should be having a diagnosis 630 00:24:28,830 --> 00:24:30,774 every single day . So no , I don't 631 00:24:30,774 --> 00:24:32,886 think we've reached a point where our 632 00:24:32,886 --> 00:24:35,110 efforts need to stop our efforts stop 633 00:24:35,110 --> 00:24:37,332 when we've eliminated people dying from 634 00:24:37,332 --> 00:24:39,554 this disease . We are efforts stop when 635 00:24:39,554 --> 00:24:41,721 we've eliminated people being admitted 636 00:24:41,721 --> 00:24:43,554 to the hospital for this And our 637 00:24:43,554 --> 00:24:45,630 efforts stop when it stops being a 638 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,418 negative aspect to the way that 639 00:24:47,418 --> 00:24:49,640 commanders do commander business . So I 640 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,751 don't think we're close to that yet . 641 00:24:51,751 --> 00:24:53,696 So that's why the efforts at every 642 00:24:53,696 --> 00:24:53,460 level the department are still here . 643 00:24:54,140 --> 00:24:58,060 Thank you . Do you have anything about 644 00:24:58,070 --> 00:25:01,770 uh vaccine swap with South Korea ? 645 00:25:02,140 --> 00:25:05,280 Do you have any plan for As already 646 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,110 mentioned , the policy decision makers 647 00:25:08,110 --> 00:25:10,166 will decide what what policies there 648 00:25:10,166 --> 00:25:12,221 are . I'm not aware of any decisions 649 00:25:12,221 --> 00:25:14,110 that have been made from a policy 650 00:25:14,110 --> 00:25:16,332 perspective right now , we're executing 651 00:25:16,332 --> 00:25:18,499 uh vaccines to our service members and 652 00:25:18,499 --> 00:25:20,499 all of our other beneficiaries . So 653 00:25:20,499 --> 00:25:22,721 otherwise , I'm not aware of anything . 654 00:25:23,540 --> 00:25:25,707 Do you have any further questions more 655 00:25:25,707 --> 00:25:27,762 from Abraham ? Was there any comment 656 00:25:27,762 --> 00:25:29,873 that you guys can make about the fema 657 00:25:29,873 --> 00:25:31,651 vaccination sites and how those 658 00:25:31,651 --> 00:25:33,596 administered ? Yeah , sure . I did 659 00:25:33,596 --> 00:25:35,651 mention that there is still active . 660 00:25:35,651 --> 00:25:37,540 They're still supporting the fema 661 00:25:37,540 --> 00:25:39,830 mission at sites in a number of States 662 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,450 and we'll continue that mission as long 663 00:25:43,450 --> 00:25:46,700 as fema believes that they require our 664 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:50,500 support . Um as uh sites have 665 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:52,389 decided that they don't need them 666 00:25:52,389 --> 00:25:54,389 anymore . We may move them to other 667 00:25:54,389 --> 00:25:56,722 sites where they may be needed and some , 668 00:25:56,722 --> 00:25:58,833 you know , maybe returning home . But 669 00:25:58,833 --> 00:26:00,778 we anticipate that there are about 670 00:26:00,778 --> 00:26:02,944 eight weeks . Um , and if they need to 671 00:26:02,944 --> 00:26:05,950 be re re upped for another four weeks , 672 00:26:05,950 --> 00:26:07,950 we do that . But we do that site by 673 00:26:07,950 --> 00:26:10,260 site and working with fema to determine 674 00:26:10,270 --> 00:26:13,260 what they require for support . Major 675 00:26:13,270 --> 00:26:15,030 standing down of this . That 676 00:26:15,130 --> 00:26:18,280 vaccination sites yet . Not not not not 677 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:20,502 at this time . But you know , these are 678 00:26:20,502 --> 00:26:22,613 part of the discussions about what is 679 00:26:22,613 --> 00:26:24,613 needed by the States and fema makes 680 00:26:24,613 --> 00:26:26,613 that determination . And we support 681 00:26:26,613 --> 00:26:28,613 some very good things . All right , 682 00:26:28,613 --> 00:26:30,836 well , thank you all so very much . And 683 00:26:30,836 --> 00:26:33,002 a special thanks to Lieutenant General 684 00:26:33,002 --> 00:26:35,224 Place and dr terry Durham . Thank you . 685 00:26:35,540 --> 00:26:35,860 Okay .