Pentagon moves to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, NAS Jax sees increased demand

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Department of Defense moved to require vaccines for all active-duty military.

RELATED: Report: Pentagon to require troops to get COVID-19 vaccine

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a memo on Monday seeking President Joe Biden’s approval to mandate vaccines by mid-September.

It could happen sooner depending on Food and Drug Administration licensure.

“The intervening few weeks will be spent preparing for transition,” the memo reads. “I have every confidence that Service leadership and your commanders will implement this new vaccination program with professionalism, skill, and compassion.”

Naval Air Station Jacksonville stated it’s prepared to offer the vaccine.

“We are ready to provide the vaccine to our operational forces, their families, and our retirees at a moment’s notice,” Capt. Teresa Allen, the commanding officer at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, said.

They just moved vaccines back to the Officer’s Club, where they can administer up to 600 doses. It moved from Naval Hospital Jacksonville because of increased demand. Officials were previously administering up to 90 shots there.

“The vaccine is our best defense against this virus,” Allen said. “Seeing people who are now comfortable getting the vaccine makes me feel there is a chance that we’re going to get through this pandemic.”

Rick Hoffman, a retired Navy captain and industry representative for the Jacksonville Area Ship Repair Association, said he was expecting this announcement.

“It’s overdue. The sailors need it,” he told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant. “There’s no bench on a ship. There’s no bench in an airplane. Meaning — there’s no extra people if someone gets sick.”

Hoffman added the vaccines can help financially because of the paid time spent for military members to quarantine after exposure.

>>More on COVID-19 vaccine

Austin’s memo continued, “We will also be keeping a close eye on infection rates -- which are on the rise now due to the Delta variant -- and the impact these rates might have on our readiness. I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course.”

As of Aug. 4, the Navy placed second in vaccination rates — behind the Army with more than 283,000 vaccinated.

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