Dugway Proving Ground received its first COVID-19 vaccine Jan. 12, when 110 doses were delivered to the Dugway Health Clinic.
The installation’s emergency responders – police, firefighters, dispatch, surety forces and security guards – received the first dose Jan. 19-28 under the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 Prioritization Phase 1A. The vaccine requires two doses; Phase 1A’s second dose will be after Feb. 15.
On Feb. 1, the first dose of a different group was given to Phase 1B: military, civilian or contractor personnel in critical positions preparing to deploy OCONUS within the next three months or on dedicated standby for OCONUS or CONUS missions, front line essential workers in education or child and youth services, persons 75 years or older, and Commissary or food service workers.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine at DPG will be notified by email. Inoculation is not mandatory but encouraged.
The risk of a severe allergic reaction from a Moderna COVID-19 inoculation is approximately 2.5 cases per million administered, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An independent analysis determined that both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are 95% effective at preventing both mild and severe symptoms. With widespread vaccination, the virus' spread across communities is severely curtailed.
As of Feb. 10, the COVID-19 virus has killed 2.3 million worldwide, 466,465 nationwide and 1,748 in Utah (worldometers.info). Getting both doses of the vaccine is one of many weapons to quell the pandemic, but continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and stay home if you are sick.
“Protection against COVID-19 is paramount because we don’t know how it will affect us or our loved ones,” said Col. Scott Gould, commander of Dugway Proving Ground.
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Photo by Al Vogel, Dugway Public Affairs VIEW ORIGINAL
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