WEBVTT

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greetings . I wanted to take a moment

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today to speak with you about our

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efforts to vaccinate our force in the

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Wisconsin National Guard against Cove

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In 19 , Just before the holidays , we

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received our first shipment of Cove in

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19 vaccines intended for our soldiers

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and airman . We've administered more

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than 1400 vaccines to our troops , and

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we're now receiving approximately 500

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vaccines per week to vaccinate our

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force . You are under no obligation to

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receive the vaccine . However , I

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encourage you to take advantage of the

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opportunity when offered . Our goal is

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to be able to offer the vaccine to all

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10,000 soldiers and airman of the

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Wisconsin National Guard over the

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course of the next couple months . If

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you haven't already , you are . Units

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will soon be receiving a set of

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questions pre screening you for the

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vaccine and whether you'd be willing to

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get it when offered . We began by

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working to vaccinate members of Joint

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Task Force 64 who have been on the

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front lines in the battle against Cove

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it . Many of those troops have already

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received their second dose and are now

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fully vaccinated . We then began

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offering the vaccination two full time

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staff at some of our larger work

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facilities , like Joint Force

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Headquarters , where hundreds of people

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have to work in close proximity each

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day . I personally received it in early

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January , and I'm looking forward to

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receiving my second dose here soon . In

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the coming weeks , we will push

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guidance and continue efforts to

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vaccinate the rest of our full time

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force and then move to vaccinate our

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traditional force as well . Again .

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While there is no requirement to

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receive the vaccine , we encourage you

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to get it when you have the chance . We

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all know that vaccines are in short

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supply . But as the state rolls out the

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vaccine thio , each tier of priorities

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weaken slowly . Take the first steps

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towards normalcy . My hope is that by

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spring everyone in the Wisconsin

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National Guard who wants the vaccine

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has one . The more of you we can

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vaccinate , the sooner we can get back

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to in person training and regular

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activities . Since the 500 deemed this

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vaccine safe and effective back in

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December and authorized its emergency

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use , the state , including members of

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our own organization , have been hard

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at work , vaccinating healthcare

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workers first responders and other

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essential personnel in the last month .

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The state is now starting to vaccinate

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anyone over the age of 65 at some point

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in the coming months it will be

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available toe anyone . My hope is that

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we could get vaccinated and move

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forward sooner than later . Until then ,

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keep wearing your mask . Do your best

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to maintain your distance from others

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and ensure you're following CDC

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protocols to stay safe . Thanks .

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Take out .