HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Medical Squadron will conduct the last COVID-19 vaccination point of distribution, or POD, June 25 before moving vaccines to a walk-in basis at the clinic here.
Eligible personnel can receive first and second vaccine doses Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 66 MDS immunization clinic beginning July 7.
“While there is less of a demand for vaccines, we’re prepared to give them out to eligible Department of Defense personnel who want them,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Gough, 66 MDS public health emergency officer.
Gough said MDS will continue to offer the Pfizer vaccine until Hanscom’s supplies expire at the end of July. At this time, the Pfizer vaccine is the only option approved for children 12 years and older. The Moderna vaccine will continue to be available for those 18 and older.
Walk-in vaccinations will be unavailable July 9 due to a squadron change of command.
Medics expect to reestablish the POD following a change from emergency authorization use to complete approval for the vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Gough.
Clinic officials stressed the importance of vaccination even though restrictions continue to lift across the community as cases decrease.
“We’ve seen the efficacy of the vaccines over the last several months, so we know they’re working,” said Gough. “Things are looking up, but we’re not quite done yet. I still encourage everyone to get vaccinated.”