CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  –   U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan continues to vaccinate service members and civilians, and has begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine to personnel age 18 and older who are eligible for medical treatment at the hospital.
 
“We’ve had a remarkable turnout here on Okinawa,” said Capt. David Krulak, the commander of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. “We have vaccinated tens of thousands of people. The Marines, Air Force, Army, and Navy have all made sure that their personnel have had the opportunity to get the vaccine. We’ve now been able to open the door to anyone who is 18 or older and eligible to get care within the Military Health System on Okinawa.”
 
Vaccines are available through appointments which can be booked at https://informatics-stage.health.mil/FosterCOVIDApp/COVID.aspx.
 
“Please take advantage of this opportunity, make an appointment, and come get a vaccination,” said Krulak. “These vaccines have been proven to be highly efficacious in both preventing the disease, and more importantly, preventing death or serious illness from COVID-19.”
 
“Currently, we offer the Moderna vaccine and starting the second week of April, we expect to have the J&J vaccine onboard,” said Krulak. “As long as supplies are available, you’ll be given a choice when you come for your vaccination.”
 
The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine consisting of 2 doses, 28 days apart. Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected. The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (also known as the J&J vaccine) consists of 1 dose that has an 85% efficacy rate overall in preventing severe disease and demonstrated complete protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death after 28 days.
 
Vaccinations are administered at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan located on Camp Foster.
 
“The vaccination process takes place outdoors behind the hospital, near the entrance to the emergency room,” said Lt. Cmdr. Karl Chandler, the officer in charge of the COVID-19 vaccination team. “We have set up various stations to help someone complete the steps required for a safe, effective, and efficient vaccination. “
 
All Department of Defense personnel on Okinawa will continue to take preventative measures such as wearing cloth face coverings, practicing social distancing, and washing hands. A large portion of the population will need to be vaccinated before COVID-19 risks diminish.
 
“Each vaccinated person is a step toward herd immunity,” said Chandler.  “Herd immunity will protect the most vulnerable as well as those of us who are relatively healthy. It is also the exit strategy from the pandemic.”
 
U. S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan is the largest overseas military treatment facility in the Navy, serving a beneficiary population of 47,000 active duty personnel, family members, civilian employees, contract personnel, and retirees.  The facility also provides referral services for more than 189,000 beneficiaries throughout the western Pacific. 
 

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  –   U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan continues to vaccinate service members and civilians, and has begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine to personnel age 18 and older who are eligible for medical treatment at the hospital.
 
“We’ve had a remarkable turnout here on Okinawa,” said Capt. David Krulak, the commander of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. “We have vaccinated tens of thousands of people. The Marines, Air Force, Army, and Navy have all made sure that their personnel have had the opportunity to get the vaccine. We’ve now been able to open the door to anyone who is 18 or older and eligible to get care within the Military Health System on Okinawa.”
 
Vaccines are available through appointments which can be booked at https://informatics-stage.health.mil/FosterCOVIDApp/COVID.aspx.
 
“Please take advantage of this opportunity, make an appointment, and come get a vaccination,” said Krulak. “These vaccines have been proven to be highly efficacious in both preventing the disease, and more importantly, preventing death or serious illness from COVID-19.”
 
“Currently, we offer the Moderna vaccine and starting the second week of April, we expect to have the J&J vaccine onboard,” said Krulak. “As long as supplies are available, you’ll be given a choice when you come for your vaccination.”
 
The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine consisting of 2 doses, 28 days apart. Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected. The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (also known as the J&J vaccine) consists of 1 dose that has an 85% efficacy rate overall in preventing severe disease and demonstrated complete protection against COVID-19 related hospitalization and death after 28 days.
 
Vaccinations are administered at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan located on Camp Foster.
 
“The vaccination process takes place outdoors behind the hospital, near the entrance to the emergency room,” said Lt. Cmdr. Karl Chandler, the officer in charge of the COVID-19 vaccination team. “We have set up various stations to help someone complete the steps required for a safe, effective, and efficient vaccination. “
 
All Department of Defense personnel on Okinawa will continue to take preventative measures such as wearing cloth face coverings, practicing social distancing, and washing hands. A large portion of the population will need to be vaccinated before COVID-19 risks diminish.
 
“Each vaccinated person is a step toward herd immunity,” said Chandler.  “Herd immunity will protect the most vulnerable as well as those of us who are relatively healthy. It is also the exit strategy from the pandemic.”
 
U. S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan is the largest overseas military treatment facility in the Navy, serving a beneficiary population of 47,000 active duty personnel, family members, civilian employees, contract personnel, and retirees.  The facility also provides referral services for more than 189,000 beneficiaries throughout the western Pacific.