On Jan. 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern for the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. On Jan. 31, 2020, the secretary of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency in the United States and announced new measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The current epidemic, which originated in mainland China, has demonstrated the capacity of COVID-19 to spread globally. While supporting other government agencies’ response to the COVID-19 threat, the Department of the Air Force is responding appropriately to protect the health of the force and maintain operational readiness. On Aug. 24, 2021, the Secretary of Defense determined that mandatory vaccinations for service members against COVID-19 was necessary to protect the Force and defend the American people.
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Nearly 68% of active duty personnel have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least one dose. But that still leaves many service members vulnerable to the delta variant of the virus, health officials at the Pentagon said.
On Feb. 6, 2021, Senior Airman Louis Shackelford’s civilian and military worlds collided. “I recently received my first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during the February Unit Training Assembly (UTA). It was a surreal experience. I was sitting in my Air Force medical unit, in uniform, being
Fourteen Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron returned home last month from deployments stateside and overseas.
Many churches went virtual when the pandemic struck, and the 446th Airlift Wing’s chapel team was no exception.“While I believe there is something special about meeting in-person for encouragement and worship together,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Matthew Wilson, wing chaplain of the 446th AW. “We want
Reservists of the 446th Airlift Wing here continue to hold hybrid in-person and virtual Unit Training Assemblies July 11-14 during COVID-19 pandemic.“As previously mentioned, leaders in all units methodically reviewed all options for the June UTA,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Paul M. Skipworth,