National Guard vaccinates hundreds of thousands

Soldiers and Airmen serve on front line of historic nationwide mission

by National Guard Bureau Public Affairs

Feb. 18, 2021

WASHINGTON – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are vaccinating about 72,000 people a day across the country in the Guard's ongoing, year-long effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus told members of Congress Feb. 17.

Nordhaus, director of operations at the National Guard Bureau, updated the House Armed Services Committee on the Guard's progress in supporting health officials during the pandemic.

General testifies.

Still image from video of Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, director of operations at the National Guard Bureau, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, Feb. 17, 2021. Nordhaus told the committee the Guard is vaccinating about 72,000 people a day across the country. (Courtesy photo)

Still image from video of Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, director of operations at the National Guard Bureau, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, Feb. 17, 2021. Nordhaus told the committee the Guard is vaccinating about 72,000 people a day across the country. (Courtesy photo)

"Since early January, the National Guard has grown from a few civilian vaccination sites to over 350 sites across 43 states and territories," Nordhaus testified. "As I speak, Army and Air National Guard members are administering, on average, over 72,000 vaccines a day to local citizens. We estimate that since the beginning of our vaccination efforts, the National Guard has administered over 1.2 million vaccines to our civilian population."

Nordhaus said 28,000 members of the Army and Air National Guard are dedicated to COVID-19 operations in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

More than 1,900 California National Guard troops, in addition to active duty military counterparts, are working to support local, state and federal officials at mass vaccination sites established in Los Angeles and Oakland with more sites being planned at locations throughout the state.

Military formation.

California National Guard service members attend a morning brief on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 15, 2021. Guard members have been activated to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ first whole-of-government, mega point of distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Neil Mabini)

Service members talk to people inside vehicles.

California National Guard Soldiers and Airmen inprocess community members using the drive-in service to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 17, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

Soldier holds iPad for driver of car.

U.S. Army Pfc. Jonathan Ha, a Soldier with Joint Task Force Mustang, California National Guard, performs a medical screening through the use of an American Sign Language interpreter at the California State University campus in Los Angeles, Feb 15. 2021. Interpreters and translators were available both in person and remotely through a mobile device to help ensure accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of background. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Neil Mabini)

Airman talks to man.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Robyn Harrington, an administrator for the 216th Space Control Squadron, 195th Wing, California Air National Guard, checks in a community member to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 17, 2021. Cal Guard Airmen and Soldiers were activated to provide support to the first joint federal and state mass vaccination site instituted by the Biden administration. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

Soldier vaccinates elderly man.

U.S. Army Spc. Carlos Hernandez, a combat medic specialist with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, administers a vaccine against COVID-19 to Kenneth Grindley, a 95-year-old World War II Army Veteran, at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 19, 2021. Grindley served in France with the 100th Infantry Division and was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in action. Active duty military are working the vaccination site along with National Guard and other local, state and federal officials. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

Military formation.

California National Guard service members attend a morning brief on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 15, 2021. Guard members have been activated to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ first whole-of-government, mega point of distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Neil Mabini)

Service members talk to people inside vehicles.

California National Guard Soldiers and Airmen inprocess community members using the drive-in service to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 17, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

Soldier holds iPad for driver of car.

U.S. Army Pfc. Jonathan Ha, a Soldier with Joint Task Force Mustang, California National Guard, performs a medical screening through the use of an American Sign Language interpreter at the California State University campus in Los Angeles, Feb 15. 2021. Interpreters and translators were available both in person and remotely through a mobile device to help ensure accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of background. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Neil Mabini)

Airman talks to man.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Robyn Harrington, an administrator for the 216th Space Control Squadron, 195th Wing, California Air National Guard, checks in a community member to receive a vaccine against COVID-19 at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 17, 2021. Cal Guard Airmen and Soldiers were activated to provide support to the first joint federal and state mass vaccination site instituted by the Biden administration. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

Soldier vaccinates elderly man.

U.S. Army Spc. Carlos Hernandez, a combat medic specialist with 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, administers a vaccine against COVID-19 to Kenneth Grindley, a 95-year-old World War II Army Veteran, at California State University, Los Angeles, Feb. 19, 2021. Grindley served in France with the 100th Infantry Division and was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in action. Active duty military are working the vaccination site along with National Guard and other local, state and federal officials. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Simone Lara)

"In 2020 alone, our National Guard members tested nearly 13 million people, provided medical planning support to local communities and conducted warehouse operations to support the distribution of personal protective equipment and medical equipment to hospitals and community medical centers," he said. "The National Guard also provided nearly 550 million meals to families in need, disinfected over 9,600 long-term care facilities, and delivered nearly 37 million masks for frontline workers."

These efforts, Nordhaus noted, have come as the Guard has simultaneously responded to massive wildfires in the West, record-breaking hurricanes, civil disturbances in the nation's capital and dozens of states, and its overseas warfighting mission.

“Not since World War II has our National Guard been called upon to serve in such numbers.”
Maj. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus

"Not since World War II has our National Guard been called upon to serve in such numbers," he said. "Last June, we had over 120,000 service members supporting missions in our homeland and overseas."

Nordhaus told the committee one of the Guard's top priorities is to administer the vaccine to Guard members and their families, with 71,000 receiving at least the first vaccination so far.

"We will remain laser-focused with our interagency partners, civilian and military leaders, and frontline workers to help vaccinate our citizens and defeat COVID-19," he said. "Every day, tens of thousands of National Guard members – many of whom left their families and civilian jobs – serve on the front lines of this battle, saving lives and minimizing suffering across our nation. The National Guard remains 'Always Ready, Always There.' "

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