Washington, DC –
With over two-thirds of the Coast Guard workforce fully or partially vaccinated as of June 7, 2021, the service is approaching the nation’s goal of vaccinating 70% of all adults with at least one shot by July 4, 2021.
The significant progress made by the Coast Guard’s vaccination campaign continues, resulting in the relaxation of the precautions put in place when the rates of infection and death were notably higher. Fully vaccinated personnel who are at least two weeks beyond their final dose are no longer required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors aboard federal facilities, Coast Guard cutters, small boats, and aircraft. Currently, case numbers in the United States continue their downward trend. In the U.S. about 23,000 new infections are being identified each day, the fewest in nearly a year.
Vaccination remains central to our efforts to defend against COVID-19, and there are millions of Americans who still need protection against the virus. The technology and procedures used to develop the vaccine have been in use for the last 10 years. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to use the vaccines came quickly because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated the vaccines to the front line at every step. No compromises on safety or effectiveness were made during their development. The vaccines’ effectiveness is evident in the data: As more people get vaccinated, the more cases and death rates fall.
The COVID-19 vaccine has never been more abundant and available than it is now. Currently, all eligible dependents can contact their local clinic to verify vaccine availability and to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. The fastest way out of this pandemic is for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Watch this video to hear Coast Guard personnel discuss their decision to receive the vaccine.