San Diego Navy Personnel Among the First in DoD to Get New COVID-19 Vaccine Shots The first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), with distribution being conducted in phases, Dec. 14, 2020. (Vernishia R. Vaughn-Lucas/U.S. Navy) 15 Dec 2020 The U.S. Navy will begin vaccinating personnel for COVID-19 starting Tuesday -- some of the first Defense Department employees to get the newly authorized vaccine for the coronavirus. According to the Navy, military health care workers, first responders and personnel security forces at Naval Medical Center San Diego are expected to be among the first DoD personnel to get shots, starting Tuesday, while workers at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, as well as base first responders and "fire and gate people" will start getting theirs Wednesday.