NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
As part of the Defense Department’s mission to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Korea is coordinating with DLA Indo-Pacific, U.S. Army Medical Material Center Korea, FedEx and U.S. Forces Korea Provost Marshall Office to ensure successful delivery of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to U.S. Forces Korea. Vaccine recipients there will include U.S. service members, retirees, DOD civilians and authorized Korean National employees, U.S. and South Korean contractors and family members.
“Big shoutout to FedEx Korea, USFK PMO, USAMMC-K and DLA IP for their transparency and willingness to share information across all key stakeholders, which enabled transition of material and live tracking, timely delivery and detailed reports to our respective higher headquarters,” said DLA Distribution Korea Commander Army Lt. Col. Corinne F. McClellan.
DLA Distribution Korea monitors and deconflicts friction points for vaccine shipments departing from DLA Distribution Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, via FedEx through every leg of movement to the USAMMC-K warehouse on Camp Carroll, South Korea. FedEx Korea notifies DDDK of arrival times at Incheon International Airport and subsequent delivery times to USAMMC-K. The open communication provides expectation management to USAMMC-K employees reporting during inclement weather and on federal holidays to receive, process and store vaccines until they’re shipped to military treatment facilities as outlined in USFK vaccine distribution and inoculation plans.
“We’ve cemented our relationship with our partners, which has paid huge dividends with respect to live tracking and timely deliveries to our customers,” said DLA Distribution Korea Deputy Commander Macy Ooka.
Initial COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary kits departed DDSP Dec. 22 and arrived at Incheon International Airport Dec. 25. FedEx consolidates the vaccines, which are pre-cleared through customs, and ancillary kits and delivers them the same day to USAMMC-K at Camp Carroll, South Korea. Upon receipt, USAMMC-K confirms receipt of the vaccines and verifies they were maintained at -20 degrees Celsius throughout shipment.
The Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital started administering the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys Dec. 29. Vaccines and ancillary kits were then distributed to the 51st Medical Group at the Osan Air Base and 8th Medical Group at Kunsan Air Base, where medical staff and other key workers are being vaccinated.