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DFAS HEADQUARTERS, March 29, 2021 – Communication and collaboration are two principles at Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and they were put into practice by agency officials to join with the national effort to vaccinate against the coronavirus pandemic, commonly known as COVID-19.
According to DFAS Deputy Director for Operations Aaron Gillison, the agency was plugged into the Defense Health Agency briefings throughout the pandemic, and as the vaccination roll-out effort was happening earlier this year, they let the health officials know they were poised with volunteers when the opportunity presented itself.
"As soon as we got ourselves into the daily Defense Health Agency briefing, we realized that we were near two pilot sites in Indiana and New York, and we went into 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' mode," Gillison said.
Through the senior DFAS Safety Officer, A.J. Jones, they reached out to the Indiana National Guard at Johnson County Armory and the 174th Air National Guard at Hancock Field in Syracuse, New York.
"DFAS has worked to stay out in front of the pandemic, so we were actively partnering with federal and state officials to be ready to go when vaccinations opened up," Jones said.
Jones described the process as efficient and orderly. He indicated some of the issue currently is that there are more vaccinations available in some places than volunteers to receive it. "State officials are working hard so that vaccinations don't go to waste."
For instance, Gillison said at the time of this interview, more than 1,500 DFAS employees and their federal partners in the Bean Federal Center have completed vaccinations through partnerships with federal and state agencies such as the Roudebush Veterans Health Center or the Indiana National Guard.
Under the DoD-initiated vaccine program, the criteria for who is eligible has been expanding, and so has the DFAS effort.
Site directors have sought out volunteers from their employee populations, and as a result, those employees who wanted to receive the vaccine, and met the ever-expanding criteria, have received the vaccinations.
"Through mission planning and communicating our need, we reached out and in each we were able to make things happen as we let folks know we're here and we'll come to you," Gillison said.
As the effort expands, DFAS site officials have worked at their respective "posts, bases, camps, and stations" near DFAS sites, according to Gillison.
For instance, a representative from DFAS Texarkana recently reported that 100 percent of those wanting to receive the vaccinations at the Red River Army Depot have received them as of mid-March. They worked with local officials at the depot when the military from medical units from Fort Hood, located in central Texas, visited the site.
DFAS Europe and DFAS Japan have continued working through their local military communities to provide vaccination opportunities.
DFAS Columbus has had success setting up appointments with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and is partnering with the Ohio Army National Guard for on-site opportunities. Similarly, DFAS Limestone is working with the Air National Guard to explore the potential for on-site vaccinations. DFAS Cleveland is actively pursuing opportunities available in their area.
While some employees can work through DFAS channels, others have opted to get the vaccine on their own. Employees may check in their local communities or consult their individual health care providers to determine when and how they should get the vaccine as it becomes available to them.
Jones, who also received a shot, had this to say about fear of the vaccine; "Some social media and news media stories have been contributing to the vaccine hesitancy, but what I experienced with the National Guard was a very efficient and orderly process."
Officials at all levels of government continue to stress the situation is evolving.
As to the DFAS effort, the agency was able to use existing Defense health regulations, expanding eligibility criteria, and direct connections to ensure not only key or essential personnel but other volunteers had the opportunity.
Jones said it wasn't just "out of the box" thinking in this instance, but "creating the box" that has made for a successful partnership.
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2021 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 411976 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Military, DFAS partner for COVID-19 vaccinations, by Christopher Allbright, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
