Biden Admin Pauses Plan to Give COVID Vaccines to Guantanamo Detainees - Should They Be Prioritized?

What’s the story?

• The Biden administration has paused a plan to offer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to the 40 prisoners suspected of links to Al Qaeda and the Taliban who are held at the detention facility at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• The plan drew public outcry as the prisoners, including the alleged mastermind of the September 11th terror attacks, were poised to be offered vaccinations before many older Americans, frontline healthcare workers, and first responders who are in high priority groups.
• Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby tweeted over the weekend about the reversal:

“No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated. We’re pausing the plan to move forward, as we review force protection protocols. We remain committed to our obligations to keep our troops safe.”

• Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA) on Monday introduced a resolution that would express the House’s opposition to any Dept. of Defense plan that provides vaccines to prisoners detained at Guantanamo Bay “until all Americans have had the opportunity to be vaccinated” and that federal vaccination plans should prioritize U.S. citizens.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / Alernon77)