Pentagon Will Deploy Active Duty Troops To Support COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

Active duty military personnel will soon start assisting vaccination sites in states across the U.S., the White House announced on Friday.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has approved a Federal Emergency Management Agency request to "augment and expedite" the country's vaccination rollout, senior coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt said at a press briefing. Part of the first contingent of more than 1,000 troops will arrive in California over the next 10 days and begin operations around Feb. 15, he added, with more missions to follow.

"The military's critical role in supporting sites will help vaccinate thousands of people per day and ensure that every American who wants a vaccine will receive one," Slavitt said.