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- [Narrator] After a thorough validation

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and assessment process,

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we have successfully launched
our COVID-19 vaccine program

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at Brooke Army Medical Center.

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We safely received and administered

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our first COVID-19 vaccines

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to our BAMC frontline
staff on 17 December,

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starting with members of
our intensive care unit

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and emergency department teams.

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It's incredibly exciting to be involved

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in this historic national effort

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to stop the spread of COVID-19.

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On 11 December,

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the FDA issued

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the first Emergency Use
Authorization, or EUA,

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for a COVID-19 vaccine.

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This EUA enables US
citizens, ages 16 and older,

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to receive the Pfizer
BioEnTech COVID-19 vaccine.

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The vaccine trials have
not finished studying

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the safety and efficacy for children,

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and manufacturers are
not yet asking the FDA

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for authorization to vaccinate children.

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Drugs and vaccines have
to be approved by the FDA

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to ensure that only safe
and effective products

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are available to the American public.

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In situations, such as this one,

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when there is good scientific reason

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to believe that a product is safe

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and is likely to treat or prevent disease,

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the FDA may authorize its emergency use

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under specific circumstances.

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It's important to note

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that vaccines authorized for emergency use

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are offered on a voluntary,
not mandatory, basis.

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Since we are so early in
the vaccination process,

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the nation has a limited
supply of vaccine.

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The DOD will first focus

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on those providing direct medical care,

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as well as those maintaining
essential national security

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and installation functions,
deploying forces,

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and beneficiaries at the highest risk

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for developing severe
illness from COVID-19.

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Per this guidance,

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BAMC has started its program
with personnel in tier one

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and will expand to
other prioritized groups

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once we complete the first group.

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Tier one includes

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inpatient and outpatient
health care and support,

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emergency services, and
public safety personnel.

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We will provide advanced
notification instructions

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for our staff prioritized
to receive the vaccine.

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Please keep in mind there is
limited vaccine availability

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and a phased approach will enable us

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to focus on those populations

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who are most in need of COVID protection.

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We are keeping our valued
military beneficiaries in mind

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as we work through this process,

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and we'll be sure to
provide updated information

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as we are able.

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Prioritized DOD personnel
are highly encouraged

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to take the vaccine to
protect their health,

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their families, their community,

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and to lower the public health risks

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associated with this terrible pandemic.

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If you have volunteered to
receive the vaccination,

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you will be notified
through your department

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as the vaccine becomes available.

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Upon arrival at the vaccination site,

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you should bring, or will
be asked to fill out,

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a DHA form 207,

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the COVID-19 Screening and
Immunization documentation.

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Please remember to bring your CAC.

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Please be sure to tell
the vaccination provider

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about all of your medical conditions

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to include if you have any
allergies, have a fever,

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have a bleeding disorder
or on a blood thinner,

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are immunocompromised,

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or are on a medication that
affects your immune system,

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are pregnant or plan to become pregnant,

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are breastfeeding, have received
another COVID-19 vaccine.

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The Pfizer BioEnTech COVID-19
vaccine will be given to you

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as an injection into the muscle.

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You will receive a second
dose of this same vaccine

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three weeks later to complete
the vaccination series.

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If you already had COVID-19,

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you are encouraged to still get a vaccine.

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Because duration of immunity
following COVID-19 is unknown,

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the vaccine may be effective

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in protecting previously infected people.

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Please keep in mind

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that you will need to remain
in the vaccination area

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for at least 15 minutes post
vaccination for observation.

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As a reminder,

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vaccines fight disease

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by producing an immune
response within the body.

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Sometimes that means flu-like symptoms,

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such as aches and pains,
headache, and a low grade fever

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that may occur after being vaccinated.

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This is normal and a sign that your body

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is creating an immune response
to protect you from COVID-19.

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It is not possible to get
COVID-19 from vaccines.

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Vaccines against COVID-19
use inactivated virus,

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parts of the virus, or
a gene from the virus.

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None of these can cause COVID-19.

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I know that some people may have concerns

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regarding COVID vaccines,

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but I am confident they will
prove to be a game changer

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in our fight against COVID.

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The vaccine approval
process may seem swift,

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but I want to assure everyone

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that the review process has
been incredibly comprehensive

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with all the data made
available to peer review,

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to an independent working group,

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and to the Food and Drug Administration.

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The process has been open
to the public, transparent,

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and reassuringly, highly rigorous.

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If you have questions,

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it's important for you
to make up your own mind,

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and I encourage everyone

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to review these facts for themselves.

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For background,

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vaccines and therapeutics to
prevent and treat diseases

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are developed in stages.

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In phase one trials,

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researchers test an
experimental drug or treatment

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in a small group of
people for the first time.

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In phase two trials,

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the experimental drug or treatment

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is given to a larger group of people

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to see if it is effective

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and to evaluate its safety further.

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In phase three trials,

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the experimental study drug or treatment

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is given to very large groups of people.

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Researchers confirm its
effectiveness, monitor side effects,

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compare it to commonly used treatments,

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and collect information

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that will allow the experimental drug

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or treatment to be used safely.

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We have a vaccine that represents

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an incredibly effective and safe solution

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that exceeded all of our
initial expectations,

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performing well in all ages,
all demographic groups tested,

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and with 95% efficacy.

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When it's my turn,

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I will be in that line
with my sleeve rolled up.

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We want to ensure our patients,
service members, staff,

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and families fully understand the process

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as we distribute and
administer the vaccine

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in the days ahead, starting
with the prioritized groups.

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In the meantime,

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we need every member of
this team to remain safe

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and healthy to accomplish the mission.

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The vaccine supply is limited
and pandemic risks continue.

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We will still need to wear face coverings

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practice physical distancing,
avoid large gatherings,

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and wash hands or hand sanitize often

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to limit the spread of the virus.

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We will continue to recommend
safety measures for everyone

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until the pandemic risk
is substantially reduced,

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but the COVID vaccine program

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is already providing a
promising start to the new year.

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We are helping to turn
the tide on this pandemic.

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It is my hope that we will
look back at this time

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as the beginning of a return to normalcy,

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as we safely and efficiently

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roll out the vaccine program at BAMC.