Previously unvaccinated members of the V.I. National Guard have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at U.S. Virgin Islands Community Vaccination Centers last week, a dose mandated by the Department of Defense, the Guard announced in a news release issued Monday.
The vaccinations were carried out with the assistance of and coordination from the V.I. Department of Health, the Guard news release said. The VING release made note of the rise of the Delta variant and the speed at which it can be transmitted among individuals, which increases the risk to the personnel and the Department of Defense’s mission and putting a strain on local hospitals.