Arlington has the potential to be called upon at any point throughout this summer and fall to respond to a natural disaster at home or abroad.
“The USS Arlington is ideally suited to respond on short notice to a humanitarian crisis if needed,” said Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill, commanding officer of the Arlington. This vaccination will enable us to make contact with local communities in a disaster, and do so without increasing the threat of spreading more of the virus and further endangering the people we seek to help.”
The fight against COVID-19 is an all-hands effort and that was on full display as Arlington’s health services department worked together with Sailors from Fleet Surgical Teams 2, 4, and 8, as well as staff from Naval Medicine Readiness Training Command, Portsmouth to complete the second series of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Arlington Sailors finished strong with a take-rate of 98% for the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine series,” said Lt. Caitlin Tallant, Arlington’s medical officer. “We are proud of our Sailors for helping to stop COVID and keep us ready for the high-end fight."
Throughout the pandemic, the Navy has incorporated policies that require strict compliance with CDC guidance regarding wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and other public health measures.
According to updates on the U.S. Navy website www.navy.mil, 69,711 Navy personnel are partially vaccinated and 145,939 are fully vaccinated as of April 21.