Vaccine Plan For Gitmo Paused After Outrage From Republicans

Topline

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Saturday afternoon no detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison had received a Covid vaccine, and the Pentagon was “pausing” a plan to give accused terrorists, some involved in 9/11, shots as early as next week that led to outrage among Republicans.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“We remain committed to our obligations to keep our troops safe,” Kirby said.

Big Number

40. That’s how many inmates remain at the military prison, down from hundreds in the past. It was established under former President George W. Bush to house accused terrorists following the 9/11 attacks. 

Key Background

Vaccine efforts are continuing to ramp up around the U.S., with 28.9 million shots having been given as of Friday night, according to a Bloomberg tracker. But rollout efforts have continued to be plagued with problems, with most states having given at least a single shot to less than 7% of their population as of Friday.

What To Watch For

The Biden administration has ordered enough shots that all Americans should be able to be vaccinated by “early fall.”

Further Reading

Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay will be offered vaccination, the Pentagon says. (The New York Times)

Biden Administration Orders Enough Coronavirus Vaccine Doses To Immunize 300 Million Americans ‘By Early Fall’ (Forbes)

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