Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III delivers COVID-19 Vaccine message.

Did you know that February is National Children’s Dental Health Month? But anytime is the perfect time to emphasize the importance of good oral health with your child. And part of that involves making sure they have dental coverage.

Group A retirees now pay enrollment fees to maintain their TRICARE Select or TRICARE Overseas Program Select coverage. If you’re a U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) retiree, you can now pay your enrollment fees by allotment.

Sexual trauma can happen to anyone, and it can have long-term effects on your mental health. But it isn’t something you have to deal with alone. There’s help available if you need it. If you’re an active duty service member (ADSM) who has experienced sexual trauma at any time, you may be eligible to participate in the Sexual Trauma Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Pilot.

Brooke Army Medical Center will begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to all TRICARE beneficiaries ages 65 and older next week by appointment only at its Fort Sam Houston vaccination site, with online booking open today. BAMC opened up appointments for beneficiaries ages 75 and older earlier this week, and with the increased capacity at its new main post facility, is now able to offer additional appointments to accommodate an expanded population.

Service members with COVID-19 may be in quarantine, but they are far from being alone. A new virtual health program is leveraging technology to provide round-the-clock care for military trainees who tested positive or who are deemed at risk due to exposure or symptoms. “This has been a tremendous collaborative effort between Brooke Army Medical Center, the Virtual Medical Center and the Army Medical Center of Excellence to provide medical support to Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors,” said Army Maj. Daniel Yourk, deputy director of operations, Virtual Medical Center.

With record-cold temperatures and potential power outages looming in South Central Texas earlier this week, Brooke Army Medical Center immediately launched into action to ensure continuity of patient care despite the impending storms. With safety at the forefront and to conserve resources, BAMC first delayed all non-urgent medical appointments and procedures to ensure emergency services and trauma support to the city remained unaffected. This measure enabled patients and non-emergency-essential staff to stay off icy roads and safely at home.

To preserve clinic access and maximize resources, the San Antonio Military Health System is centralizing COVID-19 screening and testing to a single location at Brooke Army Medical Center on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. Effective noon on Friday, February 12, the sites at Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center and Randolph Clinic will close after 11 months in operation, and BAMC will become the sole screening and testing location within SAMHS. BAMC’s site, located in the first floor of the parking garage, is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon. As a reminder, the site will be closed Monday, February 15, for the Presidents Day holiday, but will resume normal operations on Tuesday, February 16. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we continue to modify services based on current conditions. Please continue to do your part to slow the spread of this virus, remember the 3 Ws: wear a face covering, wash your hands or hand sanitize regularly and watch your physical distancing. That is the best way to preserve the health of our patients and staff.