ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Soldiers whose commanders communicated well during the pandemic were less likely to experience anxiety or loneliness, and more likely to practice good habits to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a new survey.

“[COVID-19] really just reaffirmed what we already knew—that commanders who communicate effectively reduce stress within their organizations,” Lt. Col. Sam Preston, chief of the behavioral health division in the Office of the Surgeon General and psychiatry consultant to the Army surgeon general, said May 6 during an interview.

The Army is upping its efforts to combat misinformation and provide “full transparency” about the COVID-19 vaccines, the Army surgeon general said.

“We want full transparency about COVID-19 vaccines so that our beneficiaries and our soldiers can make a confident and informed choice about vaccinations,” Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle said April 26.

As DoD starts vaccinating the entire U.S. military population against COVID-19, the shots remain voluntary and free from command pressure, senior military health officials said.

Vaccination efforts, particularly overseas, have suffered from the temporary halt in use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, Defense Health Agency director, said overseas locations are receiving supplies of the Moderna vaccine, a reallocation he believes will lead to 80% vaccination overseas by June 1. 

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville has some simple advice for soldiers considering whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

“We need to do it for society, we need to do it for the team, and we need to do it for the Army,” he said. 

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution ramps up, the Army aims to have most of its force vaccinated by mid-summer, according to the Army surgeon general.

“We are on a full-court press to get there,” Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle said April 12 during The AUSA Noon Report, a webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. 

“One thing that is going to allow us to meet that goal is that the distribution of the vaccine has increased,” Dingle said. 

The Army began clinical testing this week on its COVID-19 vaccine, which its creators described as a unique option that targets multiple variants of the disease, according to an announcement from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

The vaccine, known as spike ferritin nanoparticle or SpFN, was developed by scientists at the institute, which falls under the Army Medical Research and Development Command. 

The command team for Army Medical Command will speak April 12 at a webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army.

Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, the Army surgeon general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Diamond Hough, senior enlisted leader for Medical Command, will provide updates on COVID-19 vaccinations, talk about soldiers’ contributions to the fight against the disease, and discuss medical readiness.

Almost 1,000 active-duty soldiers are supporting COVID-19 vaccination centers across the country, Army officials said March 8, as the Pentagon continues to mobilize more troops to help with the national effort.

The soldiers, along with personnel from the other services, are being mobilized in addition to thousands of National Guard troops who are already supporting COVID-19 operations in their communities.