Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Guidance

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1010 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1010

DEC O7 2020

MEMORANDUM FOR SENIOR PENTAGON LEADERSHIP (SEE DISTRIBUTION)
COMMANDERS OF THE COMBATANT COMMANDS
DEFENSE AGENCY AND DOD FIELD ACTIVITY DIRECTORS
SUBJECT: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Guidance
References: (a) Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6200.02, "Application of Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) Rules to Department of Defense Force Health
Protection Programs," February 27, 2008
(b) DoDI 6205 .02, "DoD Immunization Program," July 23, 2019
(c) Executive Secretary Memorandum, "Response to Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention's Request for Department of Defense Coronavirus Disease 2019
Vaccine Requirement and Plan," October 15, 2020
(d) DoDI 6055.01, "DoD Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) Program," October
14,2014
(e) Title 5, U.S. Code, section 7901
(f) DoDI 6025.23 , "Health Care Eligibility Under the Secretarial Designee
(SECDES) Program and Related Special Authorities," September 16, 2011
This memorandum provides guidance on the provision of coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) vaccines. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is the lead coordinating DoD
Component for executing this guidance, in coordination with the Military Departments and other
DoD Components.
The Department continues to work closely with the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the distribution of
COVID-19 vaccines. It is expected that COVID-19 vaccines will initially receive an Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the
details for administering each COVID-19 vaccine depend on the terms, conditions, and
requirements of the specific EUA, it is expected that COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary
until any vaccine receives full FDA approval and licensure. The Department will distribute and
administer any COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with reference (a) and applicable law. DoD
Components will comply with applicable labor obligations (to the extent such obligations do not
conflict with the Department' s ability to conduct operations during this public health
emergency), as appropriate.
COVID-19 vaccines are expected to increase our force health protection posture.
Therefore, in accordance with references (b) and (e), and subject to any guidance issued by the
President, I authorize the Department to provide vaccines to Service members and other eligible
DoD health care beneficiaries, as well as selected other-than-U.S. forces (OTUSF) populations,
such as DoD civilian employees and specified contractor employees as described below. The
Department will focus initial COVID-19 vaccination efforts on health care workers, emergency

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services personnel, personnel performing activities associated with critical national capabilities,
select deploying individuals, other critical and essential support personnel, and high-risk
individuals prior to vaccinating other healthy individuals. I direct the DHA, in coordination with
the Military Departments and other interested DoD Components, to refine specific vaccination
requirements for these populations as part of vaccine implementation planning, consistent with
the below guidance. DoD recommends vaccination of all DoD-affiliated individuals, as
appropriate. HHS and CDC intend to make COVID-19 vaccines widely available within the
United States, including at retail pharmacies. These efforts are expected to cover a substantial
proportion of DoD-affiliated individuals.
Individuals eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines administered by DoD are as follows:
1. Service members on active duty and in the Selected Reserve (including National
Guard personnel) are eligible and encouraged to receive COVID-19 vaccines at
military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) or other DoD vaccination sites, as
identified by the Military Departments. Service members who are not able to access
a DoD vaccination site and elect to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through non-DoD
channels must provide documentation of receipt of the vaccination to their unit for
documentation in appropriate medical readiness systems.
2. Dependents of active duty Service members, retirees, and other eligible DoD
beneficiaries are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and encouraged to access
COVID-19 vaccines through existing processes at MTFs or through the private sector
care component ofTRICARE.
3. Subject to direction by the Military Departments, other DoD Components, or Office
of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Components concerned, and in accordance with
reference (c), DoD civilian employees, who are not otherwise eligible DoD
beneficiaries, are eligible to receive the vaccine, and select contractor personnel who
usually receive influenza vaccines as part of a DoD occupational safety and health
program (e.g. , health care workers, maintenance depot workers), and who are not
otherwise eligible DoD beneficiaries, may be offered COVID-19 vaccines at DoD
vaccination sites. Follow-on care (other than the administration of a second vaccine
dose) will be provided through such individuals' existing health care plans or
personal health care providers. The Military Departments or DoD or OSD
Components may request, through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs, that COVID-19 immunizations be offered to additional DoD contractor
employees that provide mission-essential critical capabilities.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs are
delegat_ed the authority to approve COVID-19 immunizations for OTUSF personnel not
otherwise covered by the above guidance on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with references
(b), (d), (e), and (f).

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To the extent possible, individuals are encouraged to return to the same location for their
second COVID-19 vaccine dose, as applicable, in accordance with the vaccine ' s EUA.
Reporting procedures for all personnel receiving COVID-19 vaccines from DoD must
comply with applicable CDC and DoD guidance, including that from the Military Department
concerned, as well as MTF or DoD vaccination site requirements and all applicable laws.
The DHA, as lead DoD Component, will provide further information through the
COVID-19 Vaccine Operational Planning Team and other mechanisms. My point of contact for
this guidance is Dr. David J. Smith, who may be reached at (703) 681-8456 or
david.j .smith [email protected].

DISTRIBUTION:
Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense
Secretaries of the Military Departments
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Under Secretaries of Defense
Chief of the National Guard Bureau
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
Inspector General of the Department of Defense
Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
Director of Net Assessment

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