The Biden administration appears to be walking back plans to vaccinate the detainees at Guantanamo Bay after the move that would have included suspected terrorists stirred furor.
“No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby tweeted on Saturday. “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.”
That’s an abrupt departure from what the Pentagon told the New York Post on Friday, when the Department of Defense confirmed that officials had signed an order which will see COVID-19 vaccinations “offered to all detainees and prisoners.” The shots were on track to begin as soon as this coming week.
By JOE DWINELL | The Boston Herald | Published: January 30, 2021
Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See other free reports here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. BOSTON (Tribune News Service) Detainees at Guantanamo Bay including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed are in line for a coveted coronavirus vaccine. The Pentagon confirmed to the New York Post that officials had signed an order which will see COVID-19 vaccinations offered to all detainees and prisoners. The shots could be given as soon as next week. It will be administered on a voluntary basis and in accordance with the Department s priority distribution plan, spokesman Michael Howard told The Post.