Portsmouth. VA -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) Immunization Clinic personnel administered a COVID-19 vaccination to the first East Coast waterfront Sailor, Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Blair Taylor, Dec. 21. Taylor is assigned to USS San Antonio (LPD 17) as the ship’s Health Services Department leading chief petty officer and Surface Fleet Independent Duty Corpsman (SFIDC). The voluntary vaccination falls within the DoD phased approach to prioritize mission-essential healthcare personnel in receiving the vaccine. NMCP was one of the first Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) to receive a shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 15, and they have been providing vaccinations to healthcare workers assigned to the medical center. As the U.S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The nationally-acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical center, along with the area's 10 branch health and TRICARE Prime Clinics, provide care for the Hampton Roads area.