HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- The 482nd Fighter Wing completed inoculating 323 first responder personnel with the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 28, 2021. Initially the wing received 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but through the adept and precise proficiency of the vaccinators, the medical staff was able to draw additional doses from the existing vials.
According to Lt. Col. Joanne Dunk, Point of Distribution Vaccine Coordinator, it was a unified joint effort of base agencies to plan delivery, storage, and administering the vaccines in such an efficient manner.
The vaccination team held various practice exercises and scenarios to work out everyone’s role in the process. Lessons learned from other bases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also included.
To increase social distancing, vaccinations were held in the Sam Johnson Fitness Center and personnel were broken into small groups with staggered start times.
“Every effort was made to inform members of the benefits of taking the vaccine. A step-by-step video was also made by the public affairs office to provide more visual information on what members should expect,” said Dunk. “Starting this week, we are planning another round of voluntary vaccinations for the remainder of wing personnel.”
According to Dunk, every dose received was used, not one had to be disposed of.
For more information or questions, please contact the HARB public health office at: 786-415-7623.