Healthcare

Military to distribute nearly half million vaccines a day: FEMA reports

Published

10 months ago

January 30, 2021

Staff Writer

Nearly half a million people could receive the coronavirus vaccine every single day beginning in the near future with a new deal the Pentagon is moving to close on.

The Pentagon and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are working on a deal to have the military distribute around 450,000 COVID -19 vaccines a day if that many are available, according to CNN.

The agency reported Friday this number could be reached with the deployment of 10,000 troops to 100 distribution centers across the nation.

The Pentagon is close to reaching an agreement to provide around 450,000 Covid-19 vaccinations a day https://t.co/eswlU6X1cF pic.twitter.com/5GnJ9aD29g
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 29, 2021

“The department is evaluating the request, and what kinds of support it can provide. Given the significance of the request, it will be reviewed urgently but carefully to determine what DOD assets can safely be made available to support the effort,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, according to CNN.

CNN reports that the military would not receive additional doses, that it would be based on the amount of doses the states could get.

The details of the deal are not final and can be changed.

The news agency reports that the locations would distribute vaccinations for 16 hours a day with two 8 hour shifts. The report also says the troops would be deployed within 96 hours of a final agreement.

Healthcare

American and Southwest stand by vaccine mandate, despite Abbott’s ban

Published

2 months ago

October 13, 2021

Staff Writer

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are still planning to comply with President Biden’s executive order regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The order requires all their employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8t. As a result, they will be ignoring Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.

Folks, vaccination requirements work. pic.twitter.com/XuBsOQxGaN
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2021

Abbott announced his own executive order, effectively banning mandates even from private employers, on Tuesday. “In another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster,” Abbott said. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced.”

Yet both airlines are requiring their employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 24. This comes despite Southwest’s impromptu cancellation of over 2,000 flights over the weekend. At the time, the airline blamed the cancellations on air traffic control and weather conditions. However, SaraACarter.com was unable to verify that any other airline had to cancel near as many flights for the same reasons. This has left many to speculate that Southwest actually cancelled flights due to their employees walking out as a direct result of the mandate.

Just got passed this flyer from a Southwest employee #FreedomFlu pic.twitter.com/Q5gXGhxoma
— Handbrake Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 13, 2021

Reporter Jack Posobiec tweeted out a flyer circulating among the anti-vaxx Southwest employees. Currently, they are planning a protest outside of Southwest headquarters next Monday. The protest will be called “Freedom Not Force.”

Southwest told Reuters it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” In addition, American similarly said Abbott’s order does not change anything.

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.