Marine 96 percent of 7th Fleet Sailors vaccinated

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96 percent of 7th Fleet Sailors vaccinated​

By MC2 Shannon Burns, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
Posted April 7, 2021

A Sailor assigned to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) receives the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at Fleet Activities Yokosuka in early February. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Quinton A. Lee)
PHILIPPINE SEA - More than 14,000 personnel throughout the Navy‘s U.S. 7th Fleet – 96% of the force – are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Medical personnel began administering the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination to forward-deployed service members Jan. 5, as part of a fleet-wide effort to protect the force.
"We have been partnering with Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Navy Forces Japan, and 7th Fleet since day one," said Capt. Joseph F. Penta, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka COVID-19 vaccine coordinator. "It has been a team effort and our part has been receiving and giving the vaccine efficiently in a setting with all the necessary safety precautions."
Penta said the vaccine is a vital tool to protect against COVID-19, and a step toward getting back to life as it used to be before the pandemic.
"We are in a pandemic and our principle weapon for ending this and saving lives is the vaccine. We owe it to ourselves, our family and country to make every effort to stop the pandemic and if we succeed we not only save lives, but we help meet the mission of maintaining the world‘s strongest Navy," said Penta.
The process of vaccinating 14,000 personnel was a collaborative effort between leadership, medical personnel, operational commands, and logistics organizations.
"It is an honor to immunize our fleet, alongside our local Navy Medical Treatment Facilities, so we are medically fit and ready to continue our operations in the area," said Fleet Surgeon Capt. Christine Sears, assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet. "When our Sailors are immunized, they can continue to focus their full attention on our missions and exercises."

Read more:

More than 14,000 7th Fleet Sailors vaccinated

Medical personnel began administering the COVID-19 vaccination to forward-deployed service members in January.

www.cpf.navy.mil