# Defense Supply Center Columbus provides COVID-19 vaccine to workforce

/ Published April 2, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 
After weeks of coordination, Defense Supply Center Columbus has begun COVID-19 vaccinations for DSCC personnel. First doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were administered March 30. Partnerships between the Defense Logistics Agency, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and Ohio Army National Guard resulted in the activation of the local vaccination site.

“Our COVID-19 Task Force has dedicated themselves to provide a more convenient option to our DSCC workforce who want to receive the vaccine locally,” DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. Kristen Fabry said. “Establishing vaccination capability here has been a priority to make vaccinations more accessible and to ease the process for those desiring vaccinations.”

DSCC is receiving vaccine doses for installation employees from Wright Patterson AFB and from the Ohio Army National Guard. The first shipments contained about 350 doses and more will follow according to an availability arrangement between DSCC, Wright Patterson AFB, and the Ohio Army National Guard to ensure maximum distribution.

Vaccinations will continue twice weekly in the Building 11 auditorium until they’ve been administered to all employees who want them. based on availability

The Ohio Army National Guard is further providing the medical facility and medical staff for the vaccine medical requirements.

“We’re also soliciting volunteers from within the DLA and associate installation organization workforces to assist with some of the administrative functions needed to ensuring vaccination capability continues here on DSCC,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. and DSCC Vaccination Coordinator Jeff Good.

Recipients have been prioritized into phases: 1A, 1B, 1C and 2. Phase 1A includes first responders, and 1B includes essential workers, those preparing to deploy outside the United States, and those 75 years and older. Phase 1C includes those 65-74 years old, essential workers not in 1A or 1B, and those who self-identify as high risk. Phase 2 includes those not included in any of the other phases.

Petty Officer Adam Price assigned to the Navy Recruiting Headquarters on DSCC was the first to get the shot. He signed up on an earlier volunteer list and got the call from his supervisor about 30 minutes before vaccinations began at 10 a.m. He called getting the vaccine a first step toward normalcy.

“Others in my unit had to travel about three hours away to Indiana to get the vaccine, so when I got the call to get the vaccine on DSCC I was ecstatic,” Price said. “It was a no brainer; it was more convenient and really saved lots of time.”

DSCC Child Development Center employee Joy Wallace was also in the first wave of employees getting the vaccine.

“It’s been difficult locally to get scheduled for the vaccine and my supervisor worked with me to get scheduled here on DSCC,” Wallace said. “I’m extremely happy to get the shot because getting vaccinated will help protect me from infection, and it’ll improve health and safety conditions for when we reopen the center and our kids come back. We really miss them.”

For more information, email Good at jeffrey.good@dla.mil or John Meckling at john.meckling@dla.mil.