FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 12, 2021) -- Medical personnel, health care workers and members of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and garrison command team were among the first Fort Drum recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mary Paul, a nurse assigned to the Bowe COVID-19 treatment clinic, was the first in line to receive the vaccine on Jan. 11.
“Working with the COVID team since the beginning, it only makes sense,” she said. “If the vaccine is offered, we might as well do our part and start getting the community vaccinated so we can all get back to normal and carry on.”
Maj. Dexter Williams, Army Public Health Nursing chief, said that the installation is following the Department of Defense phased vaccine distribution plan, which includes first responders, public safety personnel and other essential workers in the initial phase.
He said that the Fort Drum medical team and medics from 2nd Brigade Combat Team are working tirelessly to provide the vaccine to community members, and that they are happy to do so.
“We are genuinely excited to put our plan into action,” Williams said. “It was a lot of long hours, as a team, planning for this. Now to see it being executed, it’s great.”
When it was his turn to roll up his sleeve, Fort Drum firefighter Grayden Brunet said that he felt it was a responsible thing to do.
“As a firefighter and an EMT (emergency medical technician), I respond to a higher volume of COVID emergencies,” he said. “So, I am taking this vaccine today not only to protect myself, my co-workers and family, but everyone on the installation.”
Fort Drum Police Chief Todd Julian also had no reservations about receiving the vaccine.
“For one, I believe in it,” he said. “And I also believe we really need to get ahead of this pandemic, and we can do that with this vaccine. Hopefully, people follow suit, so I thought it was important that I demonstrate some leadership by being here today.”
Julian said that there is a lot of information available about the vaccine for people who have questions about its safety and effectiveness.
“Our leadership and the medical command on Fort Drum has kept us well-informed about this, and I feel I have enough knowledge to make this decision,” he said.
Clinical trials for the vaccine have shown it to be safe and effective, which led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue an Emergency Use Authorization. Information about vaccine safety is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html.
The vaccine is administered in two doses, three weeks apart. After receiving the first dose, each participant is given a vaccination card that is required when returning for the second inoculation.
While vaccination is voluntary, senior leaders are encouraging everyone to receive the shot when it is available to them.
“It’s about protecting our team, our teammates, our mission and our families,” said Brig. Gen. Brett Funck, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum acting senior commander.
When Col. Jeffery Lucas, Fort Drum garrison commander, arrived at the Occupational Health center for his vaccination, he was eager to get feedback from DES personnel.
“It was great to see our firefighters, security guards and law enforcement officers here today, who all want to help our community get through this pandemic as soon as possible,” he said.
Lucas joined a list of senior leaders, including Funck, Command Sgt. Maj. Mario Terenas and Command Sgt. Maj. Roberto Munoz who were inoculated in the initial distribution. Maj. Gen. Brian Mennes, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander, is receiving his vaccination while on deployment in Afghanistan.
“To get through the pandemic, as many as us as possible need to receive the vaccine,” Lucas said. “To demonstrate the confidence in the vaccine and the medical personnel who are distributing it to us, I thought it was important that leaders demonstrate that confidence by getting their vaccination.”
Many of the DES first responders said that it felt no different than getting any other inoculation. But on a grander scale, Lucas said it was.
“Each one of these vaccines is like a vial of hope,” he said. “When you see members of our community, our front-line workers and emergency personnel wanting to get vaccinated, they are saying that they put our community first.”
In the coming weeks, other people will have the opportunity to receive the vaccine, including deploying service members, high-risk community members and, lastly, the healthy population. Fort Drum Medical Activity officials, overseeing the vaccination rollout on post, said that the vaccine eventually will be available to all TRICARE beneficiaries.
“For me, the big picture to keep in mind is that this is about saving lives and keeping people healthy,” Williams said. “That’s what we do every day.”
While the vaccination is a significant step forward in the fight against COVID-19, Fort Drum community members are reminded that General Order 1F is still in effect, and everyone must continue to adhere to all safety protocols in place – wear a face mask, practice physical distancing and personal hygiene, and follow appropriate restriction of movement.
“The virus is still here, and we’re still in a defensive posture,” Williams said. “So, we need to continue to wear our masks, stay home when sick, wash your hands regularly and avoid large gatherings. If we do all that, we will see this pandemic come to an end.”
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