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WWW.MHCE.US Monthly <strong>Newsletter</strong> | 15<br />
Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director of the<br />
Defense Health Agency, said the DoD hopes to<br />
expand eligibility to those 65 and older "soon,"<br />
but added that anyone who has access to a vaccine<br />
elsewhere should take it.<br />
"If it's available in the community and easier<br />
for you to get it there, then get it at your first<br />
opportunity," he said. "Please let us know if you<br />
get the vaccine somewhere else so we can update<br />
your records."<br />
Among the big concerns voiced in the Blue Star<br />
Families survey and during the virtual presentation<br />
Thursday were vaccinations for children and<br />
pregnant women.<br />
Roughly 18% of active-duty family respondents<br />
and 26% of veteran families said they would seek<br />
the vaccine for their children.<br />
Neither of the available vaccines is approved for<br />
young children. The Moderna shot is approved for<br />
those 16 years and older, while the Pfizer vaccine<br />
is approved for people at least 18 years of age.<br />
Fauci said children and pregnant women were not<br />
included in the vaccine clinical trials because they<br />
are considered vulnerable populations. But studies<br />
have begun on adolescents.<br />
"You wait until you get pretty confident that you<br />
are dealing with a safe and effective vaccine. And<br />
then you can start trials in children, which we have<br />
already done ... a de-escalation study, starting off<br />
with older children and working your way down,"<br />
Fauci said.<br />
Tests on pregnant women have just begun, he<br />
added. Of the 32 million vaccinations given so<br />
far, 10 pregnant women -- mainly health care<br />
workers -- have received shots and no "red flags,"<br />
including unexpected medical reactions, have<br />
been observed, Fauci said.<br />
Since the pandemic began, nearly 226,000 people<br />
affiliated with the DoD have tested positive for<br />
COVID-19, including 143,272 military personnel<br />
and 23,034 dependents. Another 45,106 civilian<br />
employees and 14,341 military contractors also<br />
have had the virus.<br />
More than 250 have died, including 19 service<br />
members and nine family members.<br />
Across the U.S., more than 26 million Americans<br />
have tested positive for COVID-19, and nearly<br />
455,000 have died. The number of new cases has<br />
dropped by 30% in the last 14 days, and President<br />
Joe Biden has launched an ambitious effort to<br />
deliver 150 million vaccinations in his first 100<br />
days of office.<br />
During the Blue Star Family forum, first lady Jill<br />
Biden urged viewers to continue practicing social<br />
distancing, wear masks and "get the vaccine when<br />
it's your turn."<br />
"We can beat this together," she said.