The Pentagon is pausing a plan to offer coronavirus vaccines to Guantánamo Bay detainees, Defense Department press secretary John Kirby said Saturday.
Driving the news: The Pentagon had planned to begin vaccinating detainees on a volunteer basis, several media outlets reported earlier this week. The plan angered some Republicans, who called it "inexcusable and un-American."
What he's saying: "No Guantanamo detainees have been vaccinated," Kirby tweeted.
- "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."
The big picture: It is unclear how many people at Guantánamo have been infected with COVID-19.
- "Lack of vaccinations has been a major obstacle to resuming war crimes hearings at the base’s Camp Justice compound," including that of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other defendants accused of helping carry out the 9/11 attacks, the New York Times reported.
- About 40 inmates are still being held at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, military prison.
- President Biden said during his campaign that he supported closing the prison, but he did not offer any concrete plans on how he would do so.
